General students staged a demonstration and sit-in programme in Chitalmari Upazila of Bagerhat district on Tuesday, demanding resignation and punishment of Upazila Health and Family Planning Officer Dr Md Mamun Hasan.
They brought out a protest procession from in front of Chitalmari Upazila Health Complex. The demonstration ended in front of the Upazila Parishad after parading different roads. The students then held a sit-in programme in front of the Upazila Parishad.
At that time, the students demanded Dr Mamun's resignation, describing him as a butcher.
Students alleged that since Dr Mamun Hasan took charge, there is no such irregularity and corruption that he has not committed. Due to his irregularity and corruption, the people of Chitalmari have not received any service. A corrupt doctor like him has no right to stay in Chitalmari. Even if he doesn’t resign within 24 hours, the students warned of tougher agitation.
Siam, a student of Khulna Model School and College and resident of Upazila Sadar, said, due to Dr Mamun's misbehaviour, the people of Chitalmari did not get any health service. “During office hours, he sits in the office and sees patients taking money. He signed the form by taking money from the helpless disabled person through the broker. If they were unable to pay, they would be mistreated and even thrown out of the room.”
He alleged that the doctor embezzled money by selling various fruits, including coconut inside the hospital, and fish from the pond without depositing it in the government treasury. “Even he pocketed a lot of money for travel allowance every month without making field visits. He uses the official car for family work. He pocketed income from x-ray machines instead of depositing it in the treasury. He embezzled the rest by depositing part of the money received from the cabin and ECG,” the student alleged.
“He embezzled Tk 45,000 government allocation for net connection at Vision Centre with doing any work. He kept the entire amount of Tk 1.28 lakh for the observance of Nutrition Week in his pocket without doing any work. By showing local influence, he is forcing many employees to perform many illegal tasks despite their reluctance. Even the patients were not given proper food. Private hospitals and diagnostic centres used to send patients for tests in exchange of money,” he alleged.
Saad Ullah, a resident of Chitalmari Upazila and student of Rajshahi Medical College, said, "We don't want transfer of Dr Mamun. He should be fired. If he is transferred to somewhere else, he will again commit irregularities there. He should be fired and prosecuted.”
Meanwhile, upazila health and family planning officer Dr Md Mamun Hasan left for Dhaka on Monday night without giving written responsibility to anyone, citing his child's illness.
Chitalmari Upazila Health Complex Medical Officer Dr Md Suman Talukder said, “Dr Mamun Hasan called me and told me that he would go to Dhaka because of his son’s illness. I was asked to perform the duty for one day.”
Dr Mamun Hasan is a resident of Patorpara village under Chitalmari Union in the upazila. He has been serving as Upazila Health and Family Planning Officer since June 25, 2019. Prior to this, he served in the same place as a medical officer for about three years. Dr Mamun Hasan said, “A vested quarter is running propaganda against him for self-interest. I did not do anything wrong. If I am guilty, I will accept the action of my superiors or department against me.”
