Protest against false and fabricated statements at the Health Cadre Association's press conference

Protest against false and fabricated statements at the Health Cadre Association's press conference

We, the BCS (Health) cadre doctors, express our grave concern regarding the recent actions of the so-called Health Cadre Association, an organization tainted by corruption. This group has presented false, fabricated, and misleading information about BCS (Health) cadre doctors on two occasions, September 7, 2024, and September 7, 2024, at the National Press Club. We strongly condemn these actions. Recently, we have observed that some dishonest medical officers associated with this organization have been actively undermining healthcare services by posting defamatory and provocative content on various social media platforms, including Facebook. These actions have been distressing and harmful. Despite our concerns, we have refrained from taking action to avoid disrupting healthcare services and the work of the current government. However, this situation cannot persist, and we feel compelled to clarify our position. The convener of the Health Cadre Association, Dr. Neyamat Hossain Ripon, Associate Professor in the Department of Neonatology at M Abdur Rahim Medical College Hospital, Dinajpur, has been irregular in his professional duties. His wife, Fatima-Tuz-Zohra Thakur, Deputy Secretary (Health-3 Wing) in the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, is alleged to have colluded with him to smuggle important state documents. Although a departmental action was initiated against Dr. Ripon, it was halted due to the influence of his wife.

At the press conference held on September 7, 2024, Dr. Tawfiq Ahmed, who has been linked to corruption at various workplaces, falsely claimed that our recruitment was on a contractual basis. This statement is completely untrue and misleading. The following article is presented in brief to clarify our recruitment and subsequent BCS (Health) cadre enrollment and other issues before the nation. To ensure comprehensive healthcare and to address the challenges within the grassroots healthcare system, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare undertook the initiative to fill all categories of vacant posts, both cadre and non-cadre. At that time, there were 4,133 vacant entry-level cadre posts for field doctors. Given the large number of vacancies, it was not feasible to fill all these positions immediately through the general BCS process. Consequently, the 'Class I (Non-Cadre Medical) Officer Recruitment Rules-2010' were established. Based on these rules, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare issued Memorandum No. 23/08/2009. Following the guidelines set forth in SWAPCOM Par-2/1A-1/2006/412, a high-level recruitment committee was formed, comprising seven members, including a representative from the Bangladesh Government Work Commission. This committee, led by the Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, published a recruitment circular on August 27, 2009, under Memorandum No. SWAPCOM Par-2/1A-1/2006/418. As a result, approximately 10,500 candidates applied in response to this recruitment circular.

Subsequent to the open competition, the candidates who passed the preliminary examination were scheduled to participate in the oral examination, as outlined in the Department of Health’s Memorandum No. Swaadhi/Chishi/Miscellaneous/2009-10/280 dated March 25, 2010. The final results were published in a national daily on June 1, 2010. Health examination results for the successful candidates were finalized on June 13, 2010, and police verification was completed on March 23, 2011, as per Ministry of Health and Family Welfare Memorandum Nos. SWAPCOM/Par-2/1A (Ed:NI:)-11/2009/395 and SWAPCOM/Par-2/1A (Ed:NI:)-5/2010/206. The list of appointed doctors was subsequently published. In 2010, 3,551 doctors and, in 2011, 582 doctors—totaling 4,133—were appointed on an ad hoc basis to fill vacant posts within the existing cadre. These 4,133 ad hoc (non-cadre) doctors were invited to apply for regularization of their employment by the Health Department.

According to a letter dated August 2, 2012, from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the Bangladesh Public Works Commission informed that there was no ongoing system for cadre induction of non-cadre officers through a special BCS examination. As a result, the regularization of ad hoc (non-cadre) doctors was carried out gradually from the date they first joined their service, based on the recommendations of the Bangladesh Government Work Commission. Subsequently, from 2016 onwards, these non-cadre doctors were regularized into non-cadre posts, starting from their initial date of service.
From 2017 to 2019, the Directorate of Health sent multiple requests to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare regarding the inclusion of non-cadre permanent doctors into the cadre. In response, a committee was formed on January 23, 2020, under Ministry of Health and Family Welfare Memorandum No. 45.01.0000.140.22.002.19.150 to facilitate the inclusion of these doctors into the BCS (Health) cadre.

On January 23, 2020, applications were invited from the Directorate of Health for those ad hoc/project doctors who had been transferred to the revenue sector but were not yet included in the cadre. Subsequently, on July 29, 2020, applications were solicited for the grant of ex parte selection grade in accordance with the Pay Scale Rules 2015, as outlined in Memorandum No. DGHS/Par-1/Scale/2018/7503 issued by the Department of Health.
Finally, on May 30, 2022, in consultation with the Bangladesh Public Service Commission and in line with the Bangladesh Civil Service Recruitment Rules 1981, as amended by Ministry of Public Administration Memorandum No. SRO No. 113-Act/2022, the admission of originally 1989 doctors to the BCS (Health) Cadre was confirmed from the date of their initial government service.

Later, on December 6, 2022, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare issued an order, under Memorandum No. 45.00.0000.148.22.001.21-708, to officially accept the admission of these doctors into the BCS (Health) cadre. As the positions of these officials are already permanent, yet they remain under non-cadre status, there is a need to re-permanentize these positions within the cadre framework, in accordance with Rules 7(1), 8(g), and 8(h) of the Bangladesh Civil Service Recruitment Rules-1981. It is important to note that these doctors are interested in basic training. Despite expressing their interest on several occasions to the relevant branch of the health department, they were consistently informed that basic training is reserved exclusively for cadre officers.

Meanwhile, if these doctors qualify for a higher grade (6th grade) according to the Pay Scale of 2015, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has issued notifications in various memos to provide this higher grade starting from May 25, 2023. On March 27, 2024, the Ministry of Public Administration, through Memorandum No. 05.00.0000.174.22.001.24.43, proposed an amendment to the Bangladesh Civil Service Recruitment Rules 1981 to clarify the terms of employment for 357 doctors who were originally part of the 1989 BCS (Health) cadre, engaged in projects, and later transferred to the revenue sector.

Subsequently, on May 23, 2024, the Cabinet Department, Administrative Development and Coordination-1 Division, unanimously amended the Bangladesh Civil Service Recruitment Rules 1981, as per Memorandum No. 04.00.0000.711.06.004.24.85. This amendment was intended to facilitate the necessary actions for further processing, and a letter was sent to the Ministry of Public Administration to implement these changes.The letter from the Ministry of Public Administration was forwarded to the Bangladesh Public Works Commission to take necessary measures. Among the BCS (Health) cadre doctors, approximately 93 officers are currently serving as Upazila Health and Family Planning Officers (UH&FPO). Due to their prolonged service in these roles, many of them are experiencing a decline in enthusiasm for their work. Additionally, several officers have obtained various advanced degrees and undergone significant training in both basic and clinical subjects.

It is important to note that doctors appointed on an ad-hoc basis have been included in the BCS (Health) cadre from the date of their first joining government service, following 12 years of service. Specifically, doctors who joined on July 1, 2010, completed 14 years of service on June 30, 2024, while those who joined on May 19, 2011, will complete 14 years of service on May 19, 2025.

We would like to inform you that a dubious organization, the Health Cadre Association, which frequently changes its stance, has engaged in misleading propaganda aimed at undermining healthcare management. This organization has been using various former government quarters to question our appointments. Their false propaganda continues, and in 2022, they filed a writ petition against the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, along with four other ministries, the Bangladesh Public Works Commission, and the Directorate of Health, presenting false information regarding our appointments and seniority to the High Court.

As of the 47th hearing of the writ filed in August 2022, and in the 48th hearing on July 25, 2024, the Hon'ble Judge ruled that the appointments of these doctors, initially made on an ad-hoc basis in 2010/2011 and later included in the BCS (Health) cadre, are valid. The ruling confirmed that there are no obstacles to their permanency and affirmed the date of their first joining service in the cadre posts (Writ Petition No. 10736/2022).

Finally, the proposal for amendment from the Bangladesh Public Works Commission was sent to the Ministry of Public Administration on September 3, 2024, for publication in notification form. However, it has come to our attention that some dishonest officials within the Ministry of Public Administration have mishandled the publication of this notification creating obstacles and creating new tricks to pass the time. We seek the kind attention of Mr. Mokhleshur Rahman, Senior Secretary of the Ministry of Public Administration. The health cadre association is spreading various propaganda on social media to stall the health care management. It is for your kind information that on 11/08/2024, a significant number of doctors under the banner of Health Cadre Association physically assaulted and held hostage the Honorable Director General, Additional Director General (Administration) and Director Administration of the Department of Health by disrupting the management of patient treatment in the hospital in a unilateral, extrajudicial manner. And the illegal order was signed by the Honorable Director General of the Department of Health. After learning about this incident, doctors belonging to BCS (Health) cadre appeared in person at the Directorate of Health on 12/08/2024 and protested against this illegal order with a peaceful stand and requested the Honorable Director General to cancel the illegal order by presenting suitable arguments. The BCS (Health) Cadre Doctors' arguments are satisfactory and requested to suspend the illegal order dated 11/08/2024 and advise the Department of Health Care, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare regarding the next course of action.

Every day from 13/08/2024 till now, under the banner of Health Cadre Association, a large number of doctors are staying at the health department instead of going to their workplace, thereby depriving a large number of patients of medical services. They are constantly conspiring to plunge the health system into anarchy. They are not only doing this but are constantly threatening to kill BCS (Health) cadre doctors on social media and making obscene statements. We strongly condemn and protest against it. We will be forced to resort to law if we do not take quick measures to stop this anarchy and threats. Strongly protest their actions and urge them to stop these heinous actions of healthcare management crooks and make health management more dynamic.

BCS (Health) Cadre Association