President Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Sunday said further improvements in the quality of healthcare services in Bangladesh could help reduce the tendency among patients to seek treatment abroad.

He made the remarks as a seven-member delegation of the Hepatology Society Dhaka, Bangladesh, led by its President Professor Dr Md Shahinul Alam, met him at Bangabhaban, said a press release.

The president said that professionals should perform their duties above political considerations to discharge their responsibilities more effectively.

During the meeting, Shahinul Alam, also chairman of the Department of Hepatology at Bangladesh Medical University, briefed the president on the availability of liver transplantation services in Bangladesh.

The number of patients suffering from fatty liver disease was increasing at an alarming rate in the country, driven by diabetes, unhealthy dietary habits and changes in lifestyle. He also noted a gradual increase in hepatitis B cases, he said.

Shahinul invited the president to attend the upcoming conference of the Asian Pacific Association for the Study of the Liver (APASL) as the chief guest.

The president accepted the invitation and assured the delegation of his participation in the event.

The president's military secretary and secretary, along with liver specialists who are members of the Hepatology Society Dhaka, Bangladesh, were present at the meeting.