The newly appointed administrative officials of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) took up their duties at the hospital yesterday amid strong opposition from BNP backed doctors, nurses and employees.
BSMMU employees involved with the BNP affiliated Doctors Association of Bangladesh (Dab) continued their opposition to the new appointments, holding meetings and processions and chanting slogans demanding removal of the administrative team.
Led by Dab' BSMMU unit President Dr Saiful Islam Selim, the protesters submitted a memorandum to the chief adviser's office at around 10:30 am yesterday demanding cancellation of the new appointment order issued by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
They also demanded that neutral and non-partisan people are recruited for the administration and that the 'disputed' health adviser Dr AMM Shawkat Ali is removed from his post.
Dab claimed that Dr Shawkat Ali has been trying to appoint people 'loyal to him' to BSMMU's administration department with the help of his brother Prof Monjur Hossain of Dhaka Shishu Hospital. His bother, they said, is involved with the Awami League backed Swadhinata Chikitshak Parishad.
In order to so do, Dr Shawkat Ali has been involved in creating an adverse public opinion about BSMMU and secretly hiring people belonging to the parishad, they claimed.
Claiming that the newly appointed VC, Pro VCs and treasurer of BSMMU belong to one particular political party, the protesters said while the caretaker government was trying to hold a free and fair election in the country, these new appointments were tarnishing the government's image.
BSMMU Teachers Association, however, hailed the newly appointed administration team and criticised the activities of the Dab group which they said was hampering the services of the hospital.
The teachers' assciation said that the newly appointed VC Prof Nazrul Islam, Pro VCs Chowdhury Ali Kawser and Mohammad Kamal and Treasurer Prof Ruhul Amin Mia all have reputations of being neutral and they don't have any affiliation with the Swadhinata Chikitshak Parishad.
The newly appointed administrative officials meanwhile entered their offices around 11:30 am and worked till 2:30 pm.
Earlier they met with the health adviser and secretary at 9:30 in the morning seeking financial and administrative support from the government to run the university smoothly.
“We want cooperation from everyone to make this university better and provide the best possible services to its patients,” VC Prof Nazrul Islam said.
He added that one of the first things he would do would be to boost the outdoor service of the hospital.