Dinajpur patients missing their Italian doctor

Tuberculosis patient Shombo Sarker, 55, from Mirzapur village in Dinajpur's sadar upazila is in tears, not for the suffering caused by his illness but from missing his doctor. Sarker attends a tiny dispensary that was routinely visited by Dr Piero Parolari, the Italian citizen shot on a Dinajpur roadside on November 18 last year.

"He took such good care of his patients," Sarker says, "He was polite and well-spoken. We really miss him and want him back in Bangladesh among us."

Popularly known as Father Piero, Dr. Parolari has not returned since the attack.

"He was so kind to patients," agrees Tapash Mondal, also from Mirzapur. "His bedside manner, the way he spoke was unique. He treated patients like family members and his absence is a big blow."

According to Mondal, people of all religions are equally fond of the doctor. But in an atmosphere where fear of extremism persists, not all are willing to speak publicly.

Nonetheless Dr Parolari's high-standing professional reputation is well understood in Dinajpur. Locals are aware of his diligent habit of checking on his patients daily; how he would happily review the treatment prescribed to the patients of other doctors.

According to Md. Haris, a staff member of Dinajpur Medical College Hospital, Dr Parolari even offered poor patients monetary assistance time to time, so they could access proper treatment.

"We hope he can return one day. He was a true friend to all people," says Mondal.

Born in Lecco in Italy's Milan province, 66-year-old Parolari first arrived in Bangladesh 30 years ago after completing his education in medicine. He served the patients of Rajahshi's TB Hospital for 15 years before he came to Dinajpur in 2000.

"His daily routine involved visiting patients at Dinajpur medical college, general and St Vincent mission hospitals," says Sister Deepti who worked beside him. "After that he spent the rest of the day visiting patients of his small dispensary."

"He treated people with heartfelt sincerity," says Deepti, "His tireless efforts were always focused on serving people."

But on the morning of November 18, 2015, for Dr Parolari, his colleagues and patients, the world was turned upside down. On that day three attackers on a motorcycle gunned down the doctor in front of the BRTC bus terminal in Mirzapur.

With bullet injuries to the back of the neck, Dr Parolari was rushed to Dinajpur Medical College Hospital and later flown by Bangladesh Air Force helicopter to the Combined Military Hospital in Dhaka. He was lucky to survive.

Upon his release from hospital, Dr Parolari left Bangladesh.

"We do not know if he will return," Father Michaeli told The Daily Star by phone. "We expect that he might return, to continue caring for people as he has done for the last 30 years."

According to officer in charge of Dinajpur detective branch, Redwanur Rahim, police have so far arrested six people in connection with the crime, including four JMB men and two Jamaat-Shibir activists. He says that the three directly involved in the shooting are among those arrested but that police are still searching for more people associated with the incident. "Charge sheets will be filed very soon," he says.

In the meantime, the only reminders of the incident are the police guards on the mission complex gates and the sadness of a community who lost a much loved doctor.

 "Perhaps he was born Italian," says Mirzapur resident Swapna Mardi of the doctor, "But his heart was cent percent Bangladeshi. We really miss him."