The Bangladesh Physiotherapy Association (BPA), a professional body representing physiotherapists in the country, has called for immediate action to stop what it terms unlawful raids and harassment at physiotherapy centers under the guise of mobile court operations.

At a press conference held on Saturday (12 July) at the Maulana Akram Khan Hall of the National Press Club, BPA leaders condemned recent actions taken by mobile courts in Brahmanbaria Sadar Upazila and Habiganj.

These raids, conducted jointly with representatives from the Directorate General of Health Services, led to the arrest and sentencing of physiotherapists.

The charges against them included the unauthorized use of the title "doctor" and issuing prescriptions — actions that authorities claim violate the Bangladesh Medical and Dental Council (BMDC) Act. As a result, the physiotherapists were handed jail terms and fined.

However, BPA strongly argued that such actions constitute a clear violation of the Bangladesh Rehabilitation Council (BRC) Act, 2018. According to the association, the inspection, approval, and regulation of physiotherapy and rehabilitation centers fall solely under the jurisdiction of the Bangladesh Rehabilitation Council — not the Ministry of Health.

BPA President Professor Dr. Muhammad Anwar Hossain stated that physiotherapists in Bangladesh have been using the title "doctor" since before the country’s independence and were officially recognized as such in government gazettes post-independence.

He also pointed out that in 2010, following legal ambiguities surrounding the BMDC Act, the BPA filed a writ petition with the Supreme Court. The court ruled that the BMDC Act does not apply to physiotherapists.

BPA General Secretary Dr. Md. Shahadat Hossain described the recent mobile court operations as completely unlawful and a direct violation of the Supreme Court’s ruling. He emphasized that, under the BRC Act, physiotherapists are recognized as "practitioners" with the legal right to independently assess patients, prescribe physiotherapy treatments, and provide care.

The BPA further clarified that to legally practice physiotherapy in Bangladesh, a five-year bachelor’s degree from a BRC-recognized university is mandatory. Those without this qualification may work only as technologists or technicians and must operate under the supervision of a graduate-level physiotherapist.

Dr. Nesar Uddin, BPA’s Organizing Secretary, urged the government to immediately stop these harassing raids and ensure professional independence for physiotherapists. He called on authorities to support physiotherapists in practicing according to the law.

At the conclusion of the press conference, BPA appealed for urgent intervention from relevant authorities to halt these unlawful actions and ensure the safety and dignity of physiotherapy professionals across the country.