Bandarban Correspondent: Dr. Mohammad Shaheen Hossain Chowdhury has been reinstated as the acting Civil Surgeon of Bandarban Hill District within less than a month of being posted as an Officer on Special Duty (OSD) following allegations of irregularities, including the alleged withdrawal of Tk 4 crore against medicines reportedly purchased for around Tk 1 crore and irregularities in the tender process.

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare issued a notification on September 27, appointing Dr. Shaheen Hossain Chowdhury to the post of acting Civil Surgeon of Bandarban Hill District once again.

Earlier, on August 20, he was removed from the post of acting Civil Surgeon of Bandarban and posted as an OSD at the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) in Mohakhali, Dhaka. His return to the same position within a month has raised questions and drawn reactions from members of the local community.

According to the notification issued on September 27, Dr. Mohammad Shaheen Hossain Chowdhury, who had been serving as an OSD at the DGHS headquarters in Mohakhali, was reassigned as the acting Civil Surgeon of Bandarban Hill District. He was instructed to join his new workplace by September 29.

Dr. Shaheen had faced allegations of irregularities in the procurement of medicines through the Bandarban Hill District Council. One of the allegations was that medicines worth around Tk 1 crore were purchased while a bill of Tk 4 crore was allegedly withdrawn. Allegations of irregularities in the tender process as well as other administrative and financial irregularities were also raised against him.

Several media outlets published reports concerning the allegations. Following those reports, the health authorities issued an order on August 20 removing Dr. Shaheen from his position as acting Civil Surgeon of Bandarban and posting him as an OSD at the DGHS in Mohakhali, Dhaka.

However, his reassignment to the same position in Bandarban within less than a month has sparked discussion at the local level. Some members of the local community have questioned why he was reinstated while the status of any investigation or resolution of the allegations that led to his removal has not been made clear.

Several prominent local residents of Bandarban said the allegations against the Civil Surgeon should be investigated fairly and impartially. According to them, his reinstatement to the same position without a clear explanation regarding the allegations has raised questions among local residents. They called for a clear explanation from the relevant authorities and appropriate investigation into the allegations.

However, the allegations against Dr. Mohammad Shaheen Hossain Chowdhury could not be independently verified. Similarly, the reporter did not have access to relevant documents or the final findings of any investigation that could independently establish the allegation that medicines worth Tk 1 crore were purchased against a bill of Tk 4 crore.

According to the ministry's notification, Dr. Shaheen was instructed to join as the acting Civil Surgeon of Bandarban Hill District by September 29. His reinstatement has therefore prompted questions among sections of the local community about the reasons behind his return so soon after being posted as an OSD.

Local residents who have raised concerns are calling for transparency from the authorities concerned regarding the allegations and the decision to reinstate him in the same position.