The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has initiated disciplinary action against a government physician in Shariatpur following allegations that he attended to patients at a private facility during official working hours.
Health Services Division (HSD) today wrote to the Bangladesh Medical and Dental Council (BMDC) requesting the suspension of the registration of Rajesh Majumdar, a junior consultant at the 250-bed Shariatpur Sadar Hospital, for six months, HSD Deputy Secretary Abdur Rouf Mia, who signed the letter sent to the BMDC, told The Daily Star.
Additionally, the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) suspended the operations of City Adhunik Clinic and Diagnostic Centre in Shariatpur, where the doctor allegedly treated patients while absent from government post duty.
The DGHS cited two grounds for the action: a government physician practising at a private facility during official working hours and the institution’s failure to renew its licence after the 2020–2024 fiscal year.
However, authorities said patients currently admitted to the clinic will be allowed to remain until they are discharged.
DGHS has also directed the clinic authorities to explain within the next seven working days why their licence should not be cancelled, DGHS Director (Hospital) Abu Hussain Md. Moinul Ahsan told The Daily Star.
Separately, Habibur Rahman, superintendent of the 250-bed Shariatpur Sadar Hospital, issued a show-cause notice to Rajesh Majumdar, asking him to explain why disciplinary measures, including suspension under service rules, should not be taken against him.
The doctor has been given three days to respond.
“A probe committee has also been formed to investigate the allegations. The committee, led by a senior consultant, has been asked to submit its report within three days,” Habibur Rahman told The Daily Star.
In its letter to the BMDC, the health ministry said Rajesh Majumdar allegedly recorded his biometric attendance at the hospital before going to a private facility to see patients. The matter was broadcast live by DBC News at around 10:30am on March 4.
Although the doctor reportedly claimed he had fallen ill, a video later circulated on social media showed him attending to patients at his private chamber, according to the letter.
Such actions have tarnished the image of the government, the ministry said, urging the BMDC to suspend his registration for six months.
If the registration is suspended, Rajesh will not be permitted to provide treatment anywhere in the country or identify himself as a medical doctor during the suspension period.
Contacted by The Daily Star, Rajesh denied the allegation, saying he had gone to the private clinic only to collect medicine he had left there after falling ill.
“But I was not given a chance to defend myself. Taking action against me without giving me that opportunity is injustice,” he said.
