Hospitals face staff shortages as pro-AL doctors stay away | The Business Standard
Skip to main content
  • Latest
  • Epaper
  • Economy
    • Banking
    • Stocks
    • Industry
    • Analysis
    • Bazaar
    • RMG
    • Corporates
    • Aviation
  • Videos
    • TBS Today
    • TBS Stories
    • TBS World
    • News of the day
    • TBS Programs
    • Podcast
    • Editor's Pick
  • World+Biz
  • Features
    • Panorama
    • The Big Picture
    • Pursuit
    • Habitat
    • Thoughts
    • Splash
    • Mode
    • Tech
    • Explorer
    • Brands
    • In Focus
    • Book Review
    • Earth
    • Food
    • Luxury
    • Wheels
  • More
    • Sports
    • TBS Graduates
    • Bangladesh
    • Supplement
    • Infograph
    • Archive
    • Gallery
    • Long Read
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Magazine
    • Climate Change
    • Health
    • Cartoons
  • বাংলা
The Business Standard

Thursday
June 19, 2025

Sign In
Subscribe
  • Latest
  • Epaper
  • Economy
    • Banking
    • Stocks
    • Industry
    • Analysis
    • Bazaar
    • RMG
    • Corporates
    • Aviation
  • Videos
    • TBS Today
    • TBS Stories
    • TBS World
    • News of the day
    • TBS Programs
    • Podcast
    • Editor's Pick
  • World+Biz
  • Features
    • Panorama
    • The Big Picture
    • Pursuit
    • Habitat
    • Thoughts
    • Splash
    • Mode
    • Tech
    • Explorer
    • Brands
    • In Focus
    • Book Review
    • Earth
    • Food
    • Luxury
    • Wheels
  • More
    • Sports
    • TBS Graduates
    • Bangladesh
    • Supplement
    • Infograph
    • Archive
    • Gallery
    • Long Read
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Magazine
    • Climate Change
    • Health
    • Cartoons
  • বাংলা
THURSDAY, JUNE 19, 2025
Hospitals face staff shortages as pro-AL doctors stay away

Health

Tawsia Tajmim
08 August, 2024, 10:45 pm
Last modified: 08 August, 2024, 10:52 pm

Related News

  • Pvt sector's foreign loan rises by $454m on stable exchange rate, reserve in three months
  • BAEC clarifies position on testing fees, certification timeframe
  • Constitutional Council, president election dominate talks, no consensus reached
  • Stocks rise amid Middle East tensions
  • Poultry sector faces crisis from DOC production instability: Experts

Hospitals face staff shortages as pro-AL doctors stay away

Hospital authorities and doctors are hopeful that doctor attendance will increase starting Saturday (10 August), following the formation of the interim government last night

Tawsia Tajmim
08 August, 2024, 10:45 pm
Last modified: 08 August, 2024, 10:52 pm
Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH). File photo: Collected
Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH). File photo: Collected

Hospitals across Bangladesh are experiencing significant staff shortages as doctors and healthcare workers affiliated with the Awami League avoid work due to fears of violence following the party's fall from power.

Many hospitals are operating with only half of their usual staff, particularly in outpatient departments. However, hospital authorities and doctors are hopeful that doctor attendance will increase starting Saturday (10 August), following the formation of the interim government last night.

The Directorate General of Health Services tracks daily doctor attendance on a real-time dashboard. On Tuesday (6 August), the dashboard was down, so the exact number of absent doctors was not available. Reports from various government hospitals suggest that over 50% of doctors were absent.

The Business Standard Google News Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel

At Dhaka Medical College Hospital's outpatient medicine department, only four doctors were on duty on Thursday (8 August).

A doctor from the department said, "Currently, doctors not affiliated with any political party are fulfilling their duties. Many doctors, including professors and associate professors, are not coming to work. Our department's absentee rate is around 40-50%.

"Doctors aligned with the Awami League are staying away due to fears of attacks from opposition supporters. All departments are experiencing a shortage of doctors, but we hope things will improve after the formation of the interim government tonight [8 August]."

At the National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases, the only specialised heart hospital in the country, Awami League-affiliated doctors are also absent, increasing the workload for those who are present.

Similarly, many senior doctors known to support the Awami League are absent from the National Institute of Traumatology and Orthopaedic Rehabilitation.

At Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU), key figures like the vice-chancellor, pro-vice-chancellor, registrar, and department heads have been absent since the fall of the government. However, the hospital director noted a slight improvement in the situation on Thursday.

Brig Gen Rezaur Rahman, director (Hospital) at BSMMU, told The Business Standard that staff attendance was much better on Thursday than in recent days.

He said, "While we haven't reached 100% attendance, the situation has improved significantly. All our operating theatres were open, and there were enough patients in the outpatient departments. We expect even better attendance from doctors on Saturday.

"Many rooms in the administrative building were open, and some officials, including the vice-chancellor, worked from home. The situation is under control, and no patients have been turned away."

The situation is similar at hospitals outside Dhaka. Rajshahi Medical College Hospital (RMCH), a major facility in northern Bangladesh, treats patients from several districts. After the clashes on 5 August, nearly a hundred students were treated there.

Since the fall of the government, many Awami League-affiliated doctors, nurses, and officials at RMCH have stopped coming to work. Additionally, many doctors from minority communities are also absent.

Dr Shankar K Biswas, in charge of the emergency department at RMCH, said that despite staff shortage, patient care has not been significantly affected.

He said, "We are currently seeing about half the usual number of patients. Normally, we admit 1,200 to 1,400 patients daily, but in the last 24 hours, only 703 were admitted. With fewer patients, we are managing care without issues.

"New intern doctors who joined two weeks ago are helping out, and lab, pathology, and other services are operating as usual."

However, unrest has been reported at Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College Hospital since the fall of the government, affecting both medical services and administrative activities.

On the day Hasina announced her resignation, vandals damaged offices, including those of the director and deputy director, as well as the Bangabandhu Corner.

Since then, several high-ranking officials have avoided the hospital out of fear. Many doctors, especially those affiliated with the Awami League, have also stayed away, further affecting medical services and administration.

A relative of a patient, Saidul Islam, said that fewer doctors are available, making it hard to get necessary medical care. He also noted that the supply of free medicines from the hospital has decreased.

Attempts to reach Brig Gen Mahbubul Haque Bhuiyan, director of Osmani Medical College Hospital, were unsuccessful.

In contrast, Dr Abdul Wadud, deputy director of Shaheed Ziaur Rahman Medical College and Hospital in Bogura, said the political situation has not caused a crisis at their facility.

"We are actually providing more services. We currently have at least 125 injured students admitted, and they are receiving very careful medical attention," he added.


[TBS Rajshahi Correspondent Bulbul Habib, Sylhet Correspondent Debashis Debu, and North Bengal Bureau Chief Khorshed Alam contributed to the report.]

Bangladesh / Top News

Bangladesh / hospital / Pro-AL Doctors / shortage

Comments

While most comments will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive, moderation decisions are subjective. Published comments are readers’ own views and The Business Standard does not endorse any of the readers’ comments.

Top Stories

  • Pvt sector's foreign loan rises by $454m on stable exchange rate, reserve in three months
    Pvt sector's foreign loan rises by $454m on stable exchange rate, reserve in three months
  • An anti-missile system operates as missiles are launched from Iran, as seen from Tel Aviv, Israel, 18 June 2025. Photo: Reuters
    Khamenei rejects Trump's demand for surrender, Trump says 'good luck'
  • Evacuation of Bangladeshis: Where do they go next from conflict-ridden Iran?
    Evacuation of Bangladeshis: Where do they go next from conflict-ridden Iran?

MOST VIEWED

  • Infograph: TBS
    Govt to ease loan rules to help foreign firms expand in Bangladesh
  • Google Pay. Photo: Collected
    Google Pay coming to Bangladesh next week
  • Logo of Beximco Group. Photo: Collected
    Beximco defaults on €33m in Germany, Deshbandhu owes Czech bank €4m
  • Global map showing nuclear weapon inventories by country as of January 2025, including deployed, stored, and retired warheads. Source: SIPRI
    How Israel's secret nuclear arsenal comes under spotlight amid attacks on Iran
  • The Kallyanpur Canal is burdened with more than 600,000 kilograms of waste every month. Photo: Courtesy
    Kallyanpur canal project shows how to combat plastic pollution in Dhaka
  • The India-Bangladesh integrated checkpost in Fulbari. Photo: Passang Yolmo via Telegraph India
    Import of boulders from Bhutan to Bangladesh stopped by Indian transporters in Fulbari

Related News

  • Pvt sector's foreign loan rises by $454m on stable exchange rate, reserve in three months
  • BAEC clarifies position on testing fees, certification timeframe
  • Constitutional Council, president election dominate talks, no consensus reached
  • Stocks rise amid Middle East tensions
  • Poultry sector faces crisis from DOC production instability: Experts

Features

Evacuation of Bangladeshis: Where do they go next from conflict-ridden Iran?

Evacuation of Bangladeshis: Where do they go next from conflict-ridden Iran?

4h | Panorama
The Kallyanpur Canal is burdened with more than 600,000 kilograms of waste every month. Photo: Courtesy

Kallyanpur canal project shows how to combat plastic pollution in Dhaka

1d | Panorama
The GLS600 overall has a curvaceous nature, with seamless blends across every panel. PHOTO: Arfin Kazi

Mercedes Maybach GLS600: Definitive Luxury

2d | Wheels
Renowned authors Imdadul Haque Milon, Mohit Kamal, and poet–children’s writer Rashed Rouf seen at Current Book Centre, alongside the store's proprietor, Shahin. Photo: Collected

From ‘Screen and Culture’ to ‘Current Book House’: Chattogram’s oldest surviving bookstore

3d | Panorama

More Videos from TBS

What's going on in Netanyahu's head behind the regime change story?

What's going on in Netanyahu's head behind the regime change story?

4h | TBS World
The type of bomb the US could use if Trump attacks Iran

The type of bomb the US could use if Trump attacks Iran

4h | TBS World
Why is Fordow Nuclear Facility at the Center of Trump’s Deliberations?

Why is Fordow Nuclear Facility at the Center of Trump’s Deliberations?

6h | TBS World
AI will replace jobs at tech giant: Amazon CEO

AI will replace jobs at tech giant: Amazon CEO

7h | Others
EMAIL US
contact@tbsnews.net
FOLLOW US
WHATSAPP
+880 1847416158
The Business Standard
  • About Us
  • Contact us
  • Sitemap
  • Advertisement
  • Privacy Policy
  • Comment Policy
Copyright © 2025
The Business Standard All rights reserved
Technical Partner: RSI Lab

Contact Us

The Business Standard

Main Office -4/A, Eskaton Garden, Dhaka- 1000

Phone: +8801847 416158 - 59

Send Opinion articles to - oped.tbs@gmail.com

For advertisement- sales@tbsnews.net