After seven days’ campaign ahead of the event, the riders gathered in front of Bangladesh Medical College Hospital at 8 am on Saturday 10 October.
The Principal, Professor Taimor Nawaz, and Director, Professor Rouf Sardar, of Bangladesh Medical College, were present at the starting ceremony, along with Oncology Head, Dr Zafor Md. Masud and Ameenah Ahmed, Director of Gemcon Group.
Dr Shahinur Kabir, Head of Hospice Bangladesh, described the route map of the ride and the importance of the day, before Prof Nawaz and Prof Sardar started the event by setting off on their bicycles.
Ameena Ahmed addressed those present, describing her personal experience of palliative care and the importance of palliative care in Bangladesh. She also suggested that we should invest in manpower development to bring care to all people.
Dr Masud thanked all riders for participating in the programme and mentioned that community involvement is also needed to develop palliative care in the country.
The ride itself started at 9 am from Bangladesh Medical College, with Dr Kabir in the lead on his bike.
He later noted that the bicycle was the most convenient form of transport for palliative care teams to visit their patients, due to the infamous Dhaka traffic.
People from different spheres of society, and various institutions attended this event, which was the first big public event in Dhaka for Palliative Care awareness.
Dr Munim Hossain Roopam, a doctor at Hospice Bangladesh, expressed in his speech the importance of awareness of palliative care in society.
The Ride for Palliative Care route passed Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU), where a new palliative care residency programme has just been announced, before ending at Dhaka Medical College Hospital.
