Board Cancels Appointment of 65 Doctors at Bangladesh Shishu Hospital

The governing board of Bangladesh Shishu Hospital and Institute has canceled the appointment of 65 doctors, citing irregularities in the recruitment process. This decision follows a recommendation by an investigation committee formed by the Health Ministry, which identified flaws in the hiring process. The ministry had not yet taken action when the hospital board independently revoked the appointments.

Last month, the hospital authorities appointed 65 doctors after approval from the governing board. However, within a month, the same board declared that there were errors in the recruitment process, leading to the cancellation of the appointments.

On Friday, this correspondent spoke with three members of the hospital’s governing board, none of whom provided detailed comments. They only confirmed that the appointments had been canceled. Professor AKM Azizul Haque, chairman of the governing board, told, “We have canceled the appointments and informed the ministry of our decision.” No newspaper advertisements were published for these appointments. Only doctors undergoing training or pursuing postgraduate studies at the Shishu Hospital were allowed to apply. No written or oral examinations were conducted to assess the candidates’ merit or skills. Allegations surfaced that all 65 appointed doctors were affiliated with the Doctors’ Association of Bangladesh (DAB), a group associated with BNP supporters. A video circulating on social media showed MA Kamal, the former general secretary of DAB’s dissolved committee and a member of the hospital’s governing board, stating that all 65 appointed doctors were DAB members. On July 13 published a report titled “Allegations of Irregularities: 65 Doctors Appointed Without Exams at Shishu Hospital,” sparking criticism on social media. In response, the Health Ministry formed a three-member investigation committee. The committee submitted its report on July 14, confirming irregularities in the recruitment process and recommending the cancellation of the appointments.

When asked what the ministry would do now that both the investigation committee and the hospital board had recommended and executed the cancellation, Md. Saidur Rahman, secretary of the Health Services Division of the Health Ministry, said, “We have sent a letter to the hospital authorities cautioning them.”