Staff Correspondent

An assistant controller of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) has allegedly engaged in an illicit affair with a female colleague during a training trip to South Korea.

They were caught red-handed by their other colleagues while enjoying a pleasant moment outside their hotel.

Following information, the BSMMU authorities have formed an investigation committee to verify the authenticity of the allegation.

Additionally, another assistant director of the super-specialised hospital was caught by law enforcers as he was stealing from a superstore during the same training trip to South Korea.

He managed to flee the spot with theft twice but was caught the third time and arrested by the Korean police.

He was suspended when the incident was reported to the BSMMU authorities via email. However, the then Vice Chancellor, Prof. Dr. Sharfuddin Ahmed, later reinstated him.

A total of 157 doctors, officers, and employees of BSMMU went to South Korea for training lasting two to four months, on the condition that they would join the super-specialised hospital afterward.

Of them, 52 are physicians, 29 are officials, 53 are senior nurses and 23 are technicians and upon completing the training, only 72 persons, including six physicians, five officials, 50 senior nurses, and 11 technicians returned home and joined the hospital.

However, 85 persons did not comply with the terms and conditions, according to sources of the BSMMU.

It has been alleged that some individuals secured the foreign trip by managing their respective authorities, hoping to earn a hefty allowance in the name of the training.

According to the information, a total of 52 doctors from different departments in five groups went to South Korea for training in 2021-22 and were given training for two to four months. Each of them is paid a training allowance of $75 per day.

Those who were trained for two months received between Tk 4.5 to Tk 5 lakh each, while those trained for four months received Tk 9 to Tk 10 lakh.

However, the BSMMU authorities have spent a significant amount of money on their travel, hotel rent and food purposes.

Upon completing the training, only six doctors returned home and joined the super-specialised hospital, the remaining 46 doctors did not join as expected.

Not only the doctors, but a total of 85 trained officers also did not join the hospital. Those who trained for two months received an allowance of $60 per day, totaling Tk 3.5 lakh over the two-month period, the source said.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the Super Specialised Hospital on September 14, 2023.

After two months, on December 27, the country's first super specialised hospital began serving patients outdoors.

Hundreds of patients receive treatment at the hospital's outdoor facilities every day.

The hospital was scheduled to commence indoor treatments in January of this year but it failed to meet this target.

Issues such as the non-appointment of skilled manpower, the absence of an organogram, and allegations of corruption and mismanagement in the appointment process of medical officers have hindered its opening.