DAB to stay away from BSMMU dean election

Doctors Association of Bangladesh (DAB) will not contest in the upcoming dean’s election at Banghabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU), scheduled to be held on September 5. DAB has withdrawn all of its eight candidates who earlier submitted nomination papers to contest for the four dean’s post.

Dr Saiful Islam Selim, President of BSMMU unit of DAB, a BNP-backed doctor’s organization, told Dhaka Tribune that a four-point demand for holding a free and fair election was made on August 24 for the vice-chancellor’s consideration.

“We were compelled to withdraw ourselves from the election, as we did not get any response from him,” Selim said, demanding that the election be postponed until DAB’s demands are met.

The demands include a faultless voter list, the appointment of teachers at their previous posts as per a court order and to include their names in the voter list, appointment of new doctors as teachers and their inclusion as voters.

On the other hand, Awami League-backed Shadhinota Chikitshak Parisad (Shachip) has finalised its candidates list, which includes Prof M Iqbal Arslan of Basic Science, Prof Konok Kanti Barua of Surgery, Prof ABM Abdullah of Medicine and Prof Ali Asgar Moral of Dentistry faculties. Other than Prof Ali Asgar Moral, the other three have been working as deans of their respective faculties.

Other Shachip members who had previously submitted candidacy, have withdrawn their nomination papers in favour of the four.

The final list of the candidates will be published today.

Shachip leaders told the Dhaka Tribune that DAB leaders have assumed that participation in the election will only end in defeat. “The teachers have not yet forgotten the huge corruption committed during the BNP-Jamaat regime,” they added.

Dr Akramullah Sikder, a Professor of Dermatology, who claimed himself as a DAB candidate, did not withdraw his nomination. However, DAB president of BSMMU said: “He is not even a member of DAB, so there should be no doubt that DAB is not participating in the dean’s election.”

The withdrawal of DAB from dean’s election has doused the election excitement that prevailed at the BSMMU for the past few day.

Seeking anonymity, a few teachers told the Dhaka Tribune: “We are really disappointed. We thought both DAB and Shachip will compete against each other and it will be a tough election fight. But Shachip will now shoot at an empty goal post.”

Commenting on the effect DAB’s withdrawal might have on the poll, Prof Sayedur Rahman, the election commissioner and registrar of the university, told the Dhaka Tribune that the election will be held in accordance with the rules.

Among the total of 427 voters from different faculties, medicine has 179, surgery 185, basic science 45 and dental 18 respectively.

The DAB candidates who withdrew candidacies include: Dr Md Saiful Islam, professor of pediatric surgery, Dr Aftabuddin Ahmed, professor of cardiac surgery (surgery faculty), Dr Nuruddin Ahmed, chairman and professor of herpetology department, Dr ABM Eunus, chairman and professor of hematology, Dr ASMA Raihan, professor of gastroenterology, Dr Shafiquddin Ahmed, associate professor of cardiology (medicine faculty), Dr Kuddusur Rahman, professor of clinical pathology (basic science faculty) and assistant professor Dr Mujibur Rahman (dental faculty).