Nurse Recruitment: BSMMU to investigate anomalies

The Syndicate of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) yesterday refrained from approving recruitment of 200 senior staff nurses two days after publishing a final list amid allegations of anomalies and decided to appoint nurses on an ad hoc basis.

The Syndicate, the highest decision making body of the university with Vice-Chancellor Prof Kamrul Hassan Khan in the chair, also formed a seven-member probe body to look into the alleged anomalies and corruption.

“The list of the nurses [published by the BSMMU authorities] has not been approved by the Syndicate,” said Rustom Ali Farazi, who is a member of the BSMMU Syndicate and also an independent lawmaker.

Farazi would head the probe body.

The Syndicate did not approve the recruitment, a list of which was published on January 26, as it was not approved by the apex body, said another Syndicate member seeking anonymity.

Farazi told The Daily Star that the BSMMU, as per a decision of the Syndicate, would recruit nurses on an ad hoc basis as it needs the staff on an emergency basis.  

Interestingly, the BSMMU authorities in a press release signed by Public Relations Officer Prashanto Kumar Majumder said there was no discussion over cancellation or postponement of the recruitment.

Asked about it, Farazi said discussion on the matter took place for a few hours at the meeting that decided to form the probe body. “The committee has been formed to find out if there was corruption and the level of corruption as well,” he added.

Tension has been prevailing at BSMMU since January 19 as the VC reportedly assaulted Pro-VC [Academic] Prof ASM Zakaria Swapan over publishing of alleged corruption in the recruitment process in a Bangla daily.

The VC, however, denied the allegation of assault.

On January 24, Health Minister Mohammed Nasim asked the BSMMU authorities to follow “alternative rules” in recruiting the nurses since there were allegations of corruption.

Allegations are rife that 76 applicants from Tangail scored more than 80 in a written test. Of them, 23 are allegedly from Ghatail, the home upazila of VC Prof Kamrul Hassan Khan.

Some of them were on the final list, said sources.