In Tangail, 40 lakh people have become hostage to pro-Awami doctors in medical services. Patients in hospitals are trapped in the hands of the Swadhinata Chikitsak Parishad, or Swachip. DAB members have been pushed into a corner because the dominance and influence of the pro-Awami professional organization Swachip exists in all government hospitals, including the civil surgeon’s office, medical college and hospital, 250-bed general hospital, upazila health complexes and sub-health centers. Medicine tenders are being controlled through a syndicate.
On the other hand, talented doctors including members of the Doctors Association of Bangladesh, or DAB, who were on the run for a long time under the fascist government, are still sidelined. They are waiting in hope of postings based on merit. Allegations have also been raised against upazila health officials of controlling MSR tenders through arbitrariness, irregularities and syndicates.
Recently, 25 sacks of expired medicines from Ghatail Upazila Health Complex were caught by the public while being dumped into a river. When the matter was reported in the media, it created a stir. Senior health department officials moved into action. In the medicine incident, upazila health and family planning officer and Swachip member Abu Nayim Mohammad Sohel was made OSD. A three-member investigation committee was also formed. Effective steps are not being taken to prevent Swachip dominance or to post doctors based on merit and qualifications.
It is known that Tangail district has one medical college hospital, one 250-bed general hospital, 12 upazila health complexes and 111 sub-health centers. During nearly 17 years of Awami rule, being a Swachip member was one of the main measures of qualification in doctor recruitment and transfers at these hospitals.
Investigations found that Tangail’s current civil surgeon, Farazi Md Mahbubul Alam Manju, a life member of Swachip, joined on March 9 last year. Two other Swachip members, deputy civil surgeon Muhammad Azizul Haque and medical officer Abu Zafar, joined during the Awami government. After August 5, 2024, two Swachip members, Kamrul Kibria and Maruf Ahmed Khan, joined as assistant directors in the post of deputy director at Tangail Medical College Hospital. Earlier, in 2014, Swachip life member Nurul Alam Mia joined as project director of Tangail Medical College Hospital. Most of the hospital’s 117 doctors are Swachip members.
After August 5, 2024, the Anti-Discrimination Doctors’ Society published a list of 48 doctors, nurses, officers and employees of Tangail Medical College Hospital and the 250-bed general hospital. They were accused of opposing the July mass uprising and abetting genocide. Although a few on the list have been transferred, the rest remain in important posts. Of the district’s 12 upazilas, 9 health officials were appointed during the Awami government. Almost all of them are Swachip members or Awami beneficiaries.
DAB Tangail district branch president Dr Abdul Matin told Amar Desh that the district’s medical and health services remain under the control of Swachip and Awami-beneficiary doctors. Various irregularities and corruption continue as before. There is scope to promote and post doctors who were harassed and persecuted under Awami misrule to vacant posts. The matter has been brought to the attention of higher authorities.
Meanwhile, allegations of irregularities have emerged in medical, surgical and requisition tenders at Mirzapur, Delduar, Nagarpur, Bhuapur, Gopalpur, Dhanbari and Sakhipur upazila health complexes among the district’s 12 upazilas. These upazila health complexes are accused of controlling tenders through syndicates by imposing conditions outside public procurement rules.
Sources at the district civil surgeon’s office said that among 450 approved posts in 12 upazila health complexes, 177 are vacant. Most of the 273 posted officials are pro-Awami beneficiaries. In addition, among the 145 people posted after August 5, Awami beneficiaries also received priority. Against 790 approved posts at Tangail Medical College Hospital, there are 63 doctors, and against 87 posts at the 250-bed general hospital, there are 54 doctors. In addition, 39 posts are vacant at the district’s 111 sub-health centers. Most doctors at sub-health centers are members of Awami families or beneficiaries.
District civil surgeon Farazi Md Mahbubul Alam Manju told Amar Desh that in the Ghatail health complex medicine incident, the official was made OSD and an investigation committee was formed. He said action would be taken if there were irregularities in upazila tenders, while also claiming that he is not a Swachip member.
বাংলায় মূল প্রতিবেদন পড়ুন · Read the original Bengali report