Pro-AL candidates accused of intimidation

With three days to go before the triennial election to Chittagong unit Bangladesh Medical Association (BMA) on November 29, rival candidates are raising allegations against pro-Awami League Swadhinata Chikitsak Parishad (Swachip) of obstructing their campaigning.
Pro-BNP Doctors' Association of Bangladesh (DAB) candidates and an independent candidate alleged that they were being threatened, their banners were being removed and their campaigners were being transferred.
Pro-AL student organisation Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) activists were also being used to carry out such intimidation, they alleged.
“Swachip activists are threatening us in different hospitals. They removed five of our banners from Chittagong Medical College Hospital (CMCH),” said DAB, Chittagong unit Convener Dr Khurshid Jamil Chowdhury, a president candidate.
“We informed the election commissioner but are yet to see results,” he said, adding that he was sure of his panel's victory. “Voters are fed up with Swachip leaders.”
An independent candidate, Dr AMM Minhaz Uddin, a lifetime Swachip member vying for the general secretary post, alleged that the Swachip candidates were influencing the administration to transfer doctors campaigning for him.
He said this in reference to three CMCH doctors, all lifetime Swachip members, who were recently transferred to different district.
Of them, Dr Surajit Ghosh, indoor medical officer of surgery ward, said, “I am on a three-year training for Fellow of College of Physicians and Surgeons (FCPS) second part since November 27, 2010.
“But I was transferred to Sylhet, which is contradictory to convention, for campaigning for Dr Minhaz,” said Dr Surajit.
Dr Ajoy Das, registrar of orthopaedic surgery ward, was transferred to Dinajpur Medical College and Hospital in less than five months of his appointment to CMCH.
“According to convention, a doctor cannot be transferred before two years of his/her posting,” he said.
The same allegation came from the third one to be transferred, Dr Dhiman Barua of clinical pathology department.
Dr Minhaz said his campaigners were also being threatened in many ways.
He himself was threatened by Swachip activists during his campaign in CMCH, Chattagram Maa O Shishu Hospital (CMSH) and University of Science and Technology Chittagong (USTC), said Dr Minhaz.
“Swachip activists removed 300 of my posters from CMCH campus, five banners from USTC and another four from CMSH. I complained to the election commissioner but with no result,” he said.
Dr Minhaz apprehended that the voters might not even get to exercise their right to vote in a free and fair atmosphere.
“In the last election, Swachip candidates were seen moving freely in the voting booths and the campaigners were making voters cast votes for Swachip candidates.
Dr Mujibul Huq Khan, president candidate from Swachip, said he knew nothing about the allegations and the campaign was going on in a democratic environment.
“The DAB candidates conducted campaigns recently even in my chamber,” he said, adding that he was confident about his panel's victory.
Admitting the presence of candidates in voting booths last year, Election Commissioner Dr Kazi Shafiqul Alam said it would not be repeated this year and the candidates would vote in the last hour.
On transfers, Dr Kazi, also CMCH deputy director said, “The Directorate General of Health Services knows better.”
A doctor can be transferred anytime if the appointing authority feels it necessary. “But usually a doctor, while receiving any training, is not transferred,” he said.
Three panels -- Swachip, DAB and pro-Jamaat National Doctors' Forum ­­-- are competing in the election. Sources said DAB and NDF formed an unofficial alliance against Swachip.
A total of 3,316 voters will choose from 47 candidates vying for 23 executive posts. The voting will be held in BMA Bhaban from 8:00am to 4:00pm.