Who is going to take over as DG of DGHS?

The tenure of incumbent Director General (DG), Abul Bashar Mohammad Khurshid Alam, of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) is set to expire on December 31. So, there is a strong discussion among people related to the health sector about who is going to take helm as the next DG of DGHS.

One side of the DGHS claims that the tenure of the current DG) Abul Bashar Mohammad Khurshid Alam is likely to be extended. They say as reasons, the current DG is favored and trusted by some of the policy makers.

However, some people disagree with this view. They say that there are several qualified and senior officials among the doctors working in the health department. There are two Additional Director Generals among them. One of them is professor Meerjady Sabrina Flora (planning and development) while the other is professor Ahmedul Kabir (administration). 

Of the two mentioned above, Meerjady Sabrina Flora is most senior. Although she has been receiving treatment in Singapore for long days. She has already made recovery. He is supposed to return home in a day or two.

On the other hand, although Additional Director General professor Ahmedul Kabir is on the front line to become DG, there are a few other senior officials who are most seniors than him.

According to health experts, the post of DG Health is very important. Due to various reasons including the coronavirus pandemic, the DG of the DGHS has to speak a lot on media. Such much appearance does not take place in the case of DG of any other department of the government.

If any DG is given responsibility more than once, other senior officials become deprived. Besides, those who are supposed to get promotion from the field level and come up, they become impatient without being able to climb up.

Mentionable, the Health Directorate was divided into two directorates three years ago. One is the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) while the other is the Directorate General of Medical Education (DGME).

 Abul Kalam Azad was the DG of the DGHS during the coronavirus pandemic. His tenure was extended by two years at the end of the regular term.

The unfortunate event took place in the middle of 2020. Just when the situation of the country was getting very worse due to the coronavirus epidemic, the DGHS was covered in corruption. The people of the whole country were surprised when they came to know the matter.

Abul Kalam Azad had to resign as DG on July 23, 2020 due to allegations of corruption amid the pandemic. Abul Bashar Mohammad Khurshid Alam was made DG on July 26 that year.

The regular tenure of the incumbent DG Abul Bashar Mohammad Khurshid Alam was supposed to expire on December 31, 2020. After he was made DG, his tenure was extended by two years. The two-year extension will also expire on December 31, 2022.

Due to the extension of the previous DG Abul Kalam Azad’s tenure, other senior officials who were in serial could not get chance any more to become DGs. Similarly, due to the extension of the tenure of the current DG Abul Bashar Mohammad Khurshid Alam for the first two years, some officials could not go for the post of DG Health despite being eligible.

So, speculations are currently rife as to who will be the new DG of DGHS. Health professionals think that it will be resolved very soon. Because, the tenure of the incumbent DG is expiring just after one more day. It will be known soon whether Abul Bashar Mohammad Khurshid Alam will be the DG again, or Meerjady Sabrina Flora and professor Ahmedul Kabir, who are advanced in seniority, take the helm of DGHS.