Absent for six months

A physician, who is an assistant professor at government-run Rangamati Medical College (RmMC), was found to have been drawing his salaries despite being absent from his workplace for the past six months.

Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) yesterday exposed the incident after receiving a tip-off on its hotline 106, according to a  press release.

A three-member team of ACC, led by its Director Shafiqur Rahman Bhuiyan, found the anomalies of the physician, Dr Abdul Kader, after conducting an enforcement drive at the health directorate.

Orthopaedic surgeon Dr Kader was transferred to RmMC in July last year, but he submitted an application with the health ministry, seeking cancellation of the transfer order.

Although Dr Kader did not ascertain whether his application was accepted or not, he refrained from working at the medical college and continued drawing salaries and allowances every month, the release added.

While the ACC drive was ongoing, Prof Nasima Sultana, additional director general of the health directorate, in a phone call to Dr Kader sought explanation of his actions.

ACC Director General Mohammad Munir Chowdhury, the chief coordinator of ACC's ongoing enforcement drives, said Dr Kader's conduct and actions definitely classify as corruption.