Former health minister Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain has slammed the recent government move to appoint 6000 doctors on ad-hoc basis sidestepping the Public Service Commission, terming it 'illegal and politically motivated'. He said if his Bangladesh Nationalist Party formed government, all such recruitments would be cancelled.

"Appointing doctors on ad-hoc basis is illegal as such appointments are to be made by the PSC," Mosharraf said at a meeting of Doctors Association of Bangladesh (DAB), a pro-BNP organisation, on Friday. Prime minister Sheikh Hasina announced on Apr 10 that the government would appoint the doctors to offset the crippling shortage of physicians at public hospitals.

She said the doctors may be appointed on an ad hoc basis, and will be regularised, subject to their coming through the BCS examinations. "The service sector has already lost its efficiency for nepotism and favouritism," Mosharraf said."People are being deprived of health care facilities," he claimed. He demanded immediate release of DAB secretary Dr A Z M Zahid Hossain who was arrested on charge of submitting false wealth statement to the Anticorruption Commission.

"The government is not keeping any promises it made earlier to the people. Rather, it is very much after serving the purposes of the foreign countries," BNP standing committee member alleged. He also blamed the government for the price hike, extortions, tender-rigging, deteriorating law and order. Chaired by the DAB president A K M Azizul Haq, the meeting was addressed by former state for health Mizanur Rahman Sinha and acting DAB secretary SM Rafiqul Islam.

-bdnews

Appointment of doctors bypassing PSC illegal: Mosharraf

The Indepedent: BNP standing committee member and former health minister Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain yesterday said the government is appointing doctors on an ad hoc basis in a bid to politicise the health sector. "During the BNP rule, physicians were appointed through Public Service Commission (PSC). But the present government instead of proper channel, is giving appointment of physician on the basis of ad hocism as it wants to politicise the health sector," he said while addressing an iftar mahfil and discussion meeting organised by Doctors' Association of Bangladesh (DAB).

Terming the ad hoc appointments as illegal Mosharraf said the physicians so appointed or appointed on political ground, will be announced illegal if BNP came to power in future. He said as the government wants to implement one party rule through implementation of BAKSAL. "The doctors who lost their jobs during the rule of the present government will be reinstated if we come to power," he added.

He also said health experts of DAB were now being transferred to the remote areas affecting the health sector. "Apart from these, the government is also indulging in repression and oppression on DAB leaders in many ways. We strongly condemn it," said the BNP leader. He called upon the government to transfer the qualified doctors to the perfect place on the basis of their experience and qualifications. Mosharraf also demanded immediate release of all leaders of DAB including AZM Zahid Hossain, who is the general secretary of DAB. "Though Dr Zahid has got bail, he is unfairly detained. We demand release of all DAB leaders, otherwise strong movement will be launched," said Khandaker Mosharraf.