Protests Erupt in Pirganj as a Local Doctor is Transferred to His Hometown as Health Officer

Pirganj (Thakurgaon) Correspondent:

Dr. Kamal Ahmed, a local physician known for his involvement in clinic and diagnostic center businesses, has been transferred to the Pirganj Upazila Health Complex as a Health Officer. This appointment has shocked the residents of the upazila, who have expressed widespread anger and protest during a local law and order committee meeting. Civil society representatives are urging the higher authorities of the health department to cancel the transfer order. However, Dr. Kamal claims he is not involved in any clinic or diagnostic center business.

According to sources, Dr. Kamal Ahmed, son of Abul Kashem from the Raghunathpur village of the Pirganj municipality, started getting involved in local clinic and diagnostic businesses while working at the Upazila Health Complex in 2014. He reportedly began neglecting his hospital duties to spend time at clinics and diagnostic centers. This led to a conflict with the then Health Officer, Dr. Abdul Majid, who objected to his behavior. However, since Dr. Kamal was a member of the pro-government physicians' organization Swadhinata Chikitshak Parishad (Swachip), Dr. Majid could not take significant action against him. It is alleged that Dr. Kamal, under the protection of Swachip, earned lakhs of Taka by evading his hospital responsibilities and spending his time at clinics and diagnostic centers. Even when he spent an hour or two at the hospital, he would allegedly behave rudely with patients, their relatives, hospital staff, and local civil society representatives. Complaints were filed against him with various authorities for his involvement in the clinic and diagnostic business and for his misconduct. Many also filed complaints against him with the Civil Surgeon via phone calls. Due to numerous complaints, he was transferred out of the Pirganj Upazila Health Complex to another district.

Even while working outside the district, he would frequently come to Pirganj and its neighboring upazilas to work at various clinics and diagnostic centers. About three years ago, he opened an establishment called 'Care Digital Diagnostic Center' at his own home on Shahid Professor Golam Mostafa Road in the Pirganj municipality, although the ownership is officially listed under someone else's name. In reality, he is the true owner of the diagnostic center. He also allegedly has shares in almost every clinic in the city, including Himalaya, Global, Popular, and Ekota clinics. It is this same Dr. Kamal Ahmed who received a transfer order from the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) on Monday (September 8) to serve as the Health and Family Planning Officer of Pirganj Upazila Health Complex.

Sources indicate that while there is no official provision for a doctor to be transferred as a Health Officer to their own upazila, this rule was disregarded in his case. When news of his transfer to this hospital spread, the residents of the upazila were shocked. During a law and order committee meeting on Tuesday afternoon, Mokaddes Hayat Milan, president of the Upazila Anti-Corruption Committee, raised the issue. He detailed Dr. Kamal's involvement in the clinic and diagnostic business and his alleged misconduct. The matter was widely discussed, and a decision was made to bring the issue to the attention of higher authorities.

Mokaddes Hayat Milan stated, "Dr. Kamal previously served as a token doctor at this hospital. He was constantly busy with the clinic and diagnostic center business, neglecting his government duties. As a result, ordinary people were deprived of medical services from him."

Abul Hossain, a medicine businessman, claimed, "Dr. Kamal has shares in almost every clinic and diagnostic center in the upazila. He spends more time at these places."

Limon Sarkar, the sports and literature secretary of the Pirganj Press Club, said, "There are numerous allegations against Dr. Kamal. It is feared that if he comes here as the Health Officer, medical services will no longer be a service but a business."

A diagnostic center owner, who wished to remain anonymous, said, "Dr. Kamal does not work at a place unless he is given a share. We are forced to include him as a partner."

In response to the allegations, Dr. Kamal Ahmed said they are not true and that he now wants to serve the people of Pirganj.

When asked about the matter, Civil Surgeon Dr. Anisur Rahman stated that it is a departmental matter and there is nothing he can do.