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Result Doctoring

Docs promoted without checking allegations

Mahbuba Zannat
After holding back controversial results of examinations for promotion of doctors for more than eight months, the Public Service Commission (PSC) has finally approved promotion of a number of them without verifying allegations that the results were politically manipulated to favour many incompetent medical professionals.
The examinations for promotion of doctors took place under a committee headed by the then PSC chairman Zinnatun Nesa Tahmida Begum, which was accused of politically favouring many incompetent physicians ignoring competent ones. Zinnatun and the PSC member on the committee Prof Fazlul Haque resigned after the present caretaker government took over in January last year.
The PSC on February 20 last year
withheld announcement of results of the examinations but started publishing that from November 3 without any review.
According to government service rules, medical professionals must pass examinations under the PSC for promotion. On May 28, 2006, the government sought professors, associate professors and assistant professors against 432 posts in different medical institutions. The examinations held under the disputed commit tee stirred controversies.
It was alleged that the committee recommended promotion of many doctors without requisite qualifications as they were blessed by the then general secretary of Doctors Association of Bangladesh (Dab) ABM Zahid Hossain, depriving many properly qualified and competent ones. Zahid was allegedly involved with BNP (then in power) politics and exerted his
political influence in transfers and promotions in the health sector.
Sources said Zahid influenced promotion of three Dab members as assistant professors though they lacked required qualifications.
One of the three worked as a medical officer at the National Institute of Cardio Vascular Disease (NICVD) for five years and had no teaching experience. But assistant professor (current charge) for 27 years Dr Shirajul Islam of Dhaka Medical College was denied promotion despite meeting the promotioncriteria.
Eleven cardiologists were promoted as assistant professors. Of them, one was promoted under the freedom fighters' (FF) quota for being a member of an FF's family. Earlier, he was declared 'unauthorised absent’ by flic health ministry for taking unauthorised leave. I le was then working at the NICVD and is now at Bangladesh Medical College and Hospital.
But freedom fighter Dr Shahadat Hossain (assistant professor, current charge. Rajshahi Medical College) was denied promotion although there is a quota for the FFs, sources pointed out.
"If the authorities accept results of the examinations held under the disputed committee, then its misdeeds will be legalised," said Dr Shirajul Islam, one of the affected. The PSC can still take a decision in this regard.
Prof Sirajul Haque of cardiology department at the BSMMU was also on this committee as an external examiner. The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) is investigating allegations of corruption against him.
The present chairman of the commission (PSC) has the power to take decisions regarding the controversial examinations. If it is possible to cancel the viva voce of 27th Bangladesh Civil Service (BCS) examinations, then why these should not be cancelled, questioned many of the affected.
When contacted, Health Secretary Zafar Ullah Khan said, "We asked the PSC to review whether the examinations were transparent or not. But the PSC told us that it would not be wise to review it, and we are still in a process of understanding with the PSC."
He went on, "Following complaints, recruitment was halted but we did not ask them (PSC) to stop (publishing results). As PSC has started to publish the results after nine months, we think that they have worked on it.
"PSC took the examinations and if they think that the examinations were fair, then why shall we ask it to cancel that?"
But PSC Chairman Dr Saadat Hussain told this correspondent that they couldn't cancel the examination.
" We cannot cancel the results even if the examinations were disputed. Only if the health ministry says that they don't accept the results, then we could cancel that. But the ministry did not do that though the results were withheld for nine months," he said.
“If the committee concerned had done any irregularities or corruption, it should be taken care by the ACC. We do not review examinations," he said.
Admitting that they had received some complaints, he said, "We will look into specific complaints."
Meanwhile, the High Court (HC) on November 26 had stayed the examination results for promotion to 11 posts of assistant professors of Cardiology for two months
following a writ petition filed by a group of cardiologists. But controversial recruitment process is going on in the ministry for some other departments.
Documents made available to The Daily Star also reveal irregularities concerning the posts of associate professor (surgery).
According to the relevant advertisement, three years' teaching experience as assistant professor or consultant and at least three publications in journals recognised by Bangladesh Medical and Dental Council (BMDC) are essential but eight medical professionals were recruited to the posts ignoring the criteria.
Corruption allegedly took place also in the promotion to 10 posts of professor (surgery). Even changing the definition of teacher as given by the BMDC, many of the candidates took the examination and were recruited.
"As the promotions are lingering for a year, students of different medical colleges are suffering badly," said Khondker Shefyetulla, director, Medical Education and Health Manpower Development of the health directorate.
The health ministry will shortly take a decision in this regard as 30 recommendations of the PSC on medical professional^' promotion recruitment has been pending with the ministry and there are eight recommendations on which writ petitions have been filed with the HC, said a high official of the ministry seeking anonymity.