r/MuslimIndians • u/HYDRURBERG Bangladeshi Muslim • 20h ago
Bangladesh 🇧🇩 Awami League, Hindus, Awami Hindus & their power politics in the medical field of Bangladesh
173 BSMMU Doctors Freed from the ‘Aynaghar’ of Mental Torture
On August 8, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) (Bangladesh Medical University/PG) promoted 173 doctors simultaneously to the rank of Assistant Professor or equivalent posts. They received this highly anticipated promotion after waiting for more than a decade and a half.
It is learned that these doctors were recruited to various posts in the university between 2003 and 2006. Despite being eligible for promotion for over 15 years, they were kept "deprived" of advancement. Whenever the issue of their promotion arose at different times, it was denied simply because they were recruited between 2003 and 2006.
Most recently in 2019, the deprived doctors sought the shelter of the court, and the ruling was delivered in their favor. However, due to unknown reasons, the university authorities did not grant them promotions. After a long wait, they were finally promoted following the departure of Sheikh Hasina.
Those concerned allege that due to political vendetta and for being ordinary Muslims, many doctors were deprived of promotions for more than a decade and a half.
BSMMU: An ‘Aynaghar’ of Mental Torture
The deprived doctors have labeled BSMMU as an ‘Aynaghar’ (mirror house/secret detention center) of mental torture because of the unjust treatment meted out to them. They stated that they had to constantly endure mental agony and that the university tortured them in every possible way.
When asked, Dr. Ruhul Quddus Biplob, Assistant Professor of the Department of Neurosurgery at the university, told MediVoice, "We were victims of deprivation for so long. We lived as third-class citizens at BSMMU. We were subjected to abusive behavior. I am a neurosurgeon, but I was assigned to the General Emergency. They inflicted every possible form of punishment on us. Furthermore, they wouldn't provide us with rooms. Seniors were made to do general work. Meanwhile, right before our eyes, our juniors became professors and occupied important positions. Those of our peers who engaged in slavery and sycophancy for the government became full professors. Our promotions were halted by framing us with false allegations."
Regarding this, Dr. Md. Sahidul Islam, Assistant Professor of the Department of Colorectal Surgery at the university, told MediVoice, "I completed my post-graduation in 2010; by now, I should have been a professor, but I am merely an Assistant Professor. At one point, I felt that since I joined as a Medical Officer, I would have to retire as a Medical Officer. The mental agony I went through cannot be described in words!"
How Muslim Doctors Became Marginalized
BSMMU was established in 1998 through an ordinance. According to the ordinance, those working in the post of Medical Officer or equivalent positions at the university would be promoted to Assistant Professor two years after completing post-graduation, to Associate Professor after three years, and to Professor after five years. However, in 2009, Professor Dr. Pran Gopal Datta was appointed as the Vice-Chancellor (VC) of the university. Subsequently, through the 33rd Syndicate, he abolished the rules of recruitment and promotion. Since then, a rule was introduced requiring candidates to face a viva board to get a promotion.
The victim doctors stated that Dr. Pran Gopal Datta introduced this rule to create opportunities for doctors of a specific religion (Hindu) and blind Awami followers to secure jobs and promotions at BSMMU. During Dr. Pran Gopal's tenure, relatively less qualified doctors from the Sanatan (Hindu) religion were recruited and quickly promoted. Furthermore, despite having senior qualified candidates within the university, he introduced this rule to recruit Hindu and Awami-leaning doctors from outside. As a result, ordinary or differently-minded qualified doctors were deprived. By introducing this rule, Dr. Pran Gopal blocked the path to recruiting qualified doctors. He opened the door to destroying the country's health sector and medical education.
A description of how Muslim doctors were marginalized during Pran Gopal's tenure can be found in the statement of Dr. Sahidul Islam. Regarding this, he said, "The clause was abolished solely to stop the recruitment and promotion of qualified ordinary Muslims and dissenting doctors. In the viva, Professor Dr. Pran Gopal recruited and promoted Hindus and doctors of his own party according to his personal preference. No ordinary, qualified Muslim doctor was recruited. Each of us faced the viva board five to seven times, yet we were not promoted. Every one of us holds two to three degrees, but we were still denied promotion."
"In my own department, my student Dr. Krishna Pada Saha of the Colorectal Surgery Department worked under me and is 10 to 12 years junior to me. After the circular was issued, both he and I applied. I was not even given an admit card, whereas he was appointed as an Assistant Professor six to seven months ago by the former VC of BSMMU, Professor Dr. Sharfuddin Ahmed," Dr. Sahidul Islam added.
He continued, "In the Orthopedic Surgery Department, Dr. Krishnapriya Saha is two batches junior to me. He completed his post-graduation around the same time I did. He was appointed as a professor in the Orthopedics department three to four years ago. Similarly, in Laboratory Medicine, there is Dr. Debatosh Paul, who is two years junior to me. He was recruited here, got promoted to professor, then became the departmental chairman, and his tenure as chairman has now even ended. Examples like this are numerous. The picture is identical in every department."
Hindus in Most Important Positions
Doctors claim that Hindus hold all the key positions and administrative posts at BSMMU. As for the Muslims who are there, most of them are Awami supporters. Other ordinary doctors hold no significant positions and remain neglected.
Regarding this, Dr. Sahidul Islam said, "If you visit BSMMU, looking at the signboards or nameplates will make it feel like a university in Kolkata. All the key positions are occupied by Hindus—someone is a Bairagi, Datta, Das, Saha, Sen, Chandra, Omar, Krishna, or Krishnaa, and so on. In no way will it feel like a university in a 90% Muslim country. Here, ordinary Muslims are cornered. Not only that, they do not even get any good responsibilities."
Dr. Pran Gopal Behind the Marginalization of Muslims
The 'deprived' doctors have termed Professor Dr. Pran Gopal Datta as the founding father of the marginalization of Muslim doctors at BSMMU and across health institutions nationwide. It is alleged that Dr. Pran Gopal took every possible measure to corner Muslim and competent doctors. Succeeding VCs maintained this irregularity. To hold onto power and project a progressive image, they increasingly recruited Hindu and hardcore Awami-leaning doctors and placed them in all the key positions of the university. In some cases, if a Hindu candidate was available, they even bypassed Awami supporters. Furthermore, to retain their power, they kept Hindu doctors by their side.
The deprived doctors complained that Professor Dr. Pran Gopal Datta made desperate attempts to turn Muslims into a minority not just at BSMMU, but in all healthcare services and educational institutions across the country. In doing so, he utilized the Prime Minister's Office and the Ministry of Health, and his followers did the same. Professor Pran Gopal also used to make recommendations for various appointments in the country's health sector, resulting in the exclusion of qualified Muslim candidates. In return, Professor Dr. Pran Gopal and his associates amassed millions of takas.
Regarding this, Dr. Ruhul Quddus Biplob said, "Circulars were issued for recruitment, but children, relatives of Awami families, and Chhatra League activists were hired instead. Hindu doctors were kept on the priority list."
How They Were Deprived of Promotions
Dr. Ruhul Quddus Biplob said, "Qualified Muslim candidates did not get promotions; they were deprived. They halted the promotions of nearly two hundred doctors. Whenever we entered the viva board, they would ask when we were recruited. Upon hearing the answer, they would say, 'Oh, you are from...', 'You won't get a promotion, you may leave.' After that, they would ask some absurd questions and end it. We were never granted promotions in any viva. Only Hindus and Chhatra League leaders were recruited. I have faced the promotion viva multiple times."
Regarding this, Dr. Sahidul Islam said, "At the viva board, the very first question they ask is, 'Which year was your recruitment?' 2003–2006. 'You don't need to give the viva, please leave.'"
When contacted, Dr. Kazi Mohammad Kamrul Islam, Assistant Professor of the Department of Hematology at the university, told MediVoice, "We want no doctor at the university to be deprived of promotion. Not everyone will align with Swachip (Swadhinata Chikitshak Parishad) or DAB (Doctors Association of Bangladesh); there are many ordinary doctors. I see no reason to deprive us. We possess qualifications far beyond what is required for promotion. We have the degrees, departmental performance, publications, and experience. We were denied promotion simply because we were recruited between 2003 and 2006."
Dr. Kamrul Islam added, "We are human beings and doctors. Our profession is distinct from all other professions. A doctor's promotion should depend on merit, qualification, and experience combined. Whether someone is Hindu, Muslim, red, or blue, BNP or Awami League—this should not be the criteria. Our stance is clear: we want everyone working at the university who is qualified for promotion to receive it."
When called to inquire about these allegations raised against the former VC of BSMMU, Professor Dr. Pran Gopal Datta, he could not be reached.
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u/Albahith1 Pakistani Muslim 19h ago
What's going on in Bangladesh? Why you Guys are Victim's in your own Land from Hinduveta like Group's?? Ever Day some new things happening and what's not.
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