In a joint statement yesterday, they said, "We are worried at the recent developments at the CRP and we believe it is the duty of all citizens to save an ideal welfare organisation like CRP."

They urged the government to take necessary steps to save the organisation from ruin through investigation into various activities of the trustee board and bring back Valerie Taylor to her previous position with due honour.

They also demanded that the trustee board be formed anew with selfless and dedicated persons.

Valerie Taylor, an English physiotherapist who dedicated her life to caring for others, came to Dhaka in 1969 and established the CRP in 1979 to provide treatment and rehabilitation facilities for the paralysed at a minimal cost, said the statement.

In recognition of her dedication and contribution, the government conferred honorary citizenship on her. She was also awarded the Independence Day Award, they added.

They also said some members of the board have sidelined Valerie Taylor, indirectly forcing her to quit.

Besides, the authorities have increased all the fees for care and treatment. As a result, the poor people are being deprived of healthcare at a nominal charge, they said.

The signatories to the statement are Prof Kabir Chowdhury, Foyez Ahmad, Qayyum Chowdhury, Abdullah-al Mamun, Ramendu Majumder, Asaduzzaman Noor, Ataur Rahman, Akku Chowdhury, Ferdousi Majumder, Mamunur Rashid, Nasiruddin Yusuf, Mafidul Haque, Robiul Hussain, Shishir Bhattacharya, Muhammad Jahangir, Shimul Yusuf and Dr Shaheen Akhter.