The government has appointed Prabhat Chandra Biswas, a professor at Dhaka Medical College (DMC), as the director general of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).

The Health Services Division issued a notification on Tuesday formalising the appointment.

Prabhat is a professor in the urology department of DMC.

He also serves as the vice-president of the central committee of the Doctors Association of Bangladesh (DAB), a pro-BNP physicians’ organisation, and as the secretary of the Bangladesh Association of Urology Society.

Health Education Division Joint Secretary Sanjida Sharmin said that although Dr Prabhat will perform the full duties of the DG, the term “acting” has been included in parentheses in the notification for administrative reasons.

“Professors in the health cadre are paid in Grade-3, whereas the post of DGHS director general is a Grade-1 position. To maintain official formality during this transition, ‘acting’ was written in the order. However, he will lead the directorate as the DG,” she explained.

The top post at the health directorate had been vacant since Feb 29.

Following the fall of the Awami League government, Prof Dr Md Abu Jafor was appointed DG on Oct 15, 2024.

After reaching retirement age last December, he served on a contractual basis until Feb 28 of this year.