Health official's 'toilet' remark draws backlash nationwide

A controversial social media post by a senior health official has ignited a debate over accountability in Bangladesh’s public healthcare system, after he said that journalists could be tasked with cleaning hospital toilets and washrooms if they believe they can manage the job better.

The remark came from Dr. Syed Abu Ahmad Shafi, deputy director of the Hospital Wing at the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), who proposed on Facebook that journalists be given responsibility for maintaining cleanliness in more than 600 district and upazila hospitals for at least one fiscal year.

In his post, Dr. Shafi said that public responsibilities should be entrusted to those capable of delivering better results and suggested the idea could be considered through inter-ministerial discussions.

The comments quickly sparked criticism from journalist organizations, media professionals and social media users, many of whom described the remarks as dismissive of the media's role in ensuring public accountability.

Facing mounting backlash, the official later removed the post.

Speaking to reporters afterward, Dr. Shafi said his intention was not to undermine journalists but to draw attention to the complex challenges behind hospital sanitation problems. He maintained that healthcare authorities alone cannot be blamed for every operational failure and that structural and administrative limitations often remain overlooked in public discussions.

The controversy soon drew a response from the government. Health Minister Sardar Sakhawat Hossain said such remarks were inappropriate for someone serving in a responsible public position and indicated that the matter would be reviewed.

Meanwhile, the Bangladesh Health Reporters Forum (BHRF) strongly condemned the comments, calling them unprofessional and disrespectful to the journalism profession. The organization stressed that journalists play a critical role in exposing weaknesses in public services and helping ensure transparency and accountability.