Health Minister’s ridiculous behavior draws heavy criticism

❐ Special Correspondent

On May 25, Health Minister Sardar Md. Sakhawat Hossain visited Comilla Medical College Hospital. He observed the environment, cleanliness and medical services of various wards there. He also personally tasted the food prepared for patients in the kitchen and checked the quality.

When the minister was trying to cool the hot curry with a spoon, a person standing nearby stepped forward and tried to cool it by blowing on it. The video of this incident went viral on social media. This led to a lot of criticism. Netizens called the person ‘chamcha’, ‘extreme ‘brokerage’, ‘minister’s chamcha’ etc.

Later, it was learned that the name of the person who blew on the spoon is Dr. G. R. M. Jihadul Islam Riaz. He is a junior consultant at Comilla Medical College Hospital. His home is in Khairabad area of ​​Debidwar upazila of Comilla. His elder brother is a joint secretary.

During his student life, Dr. Riaz was the president of Comilla Medical College branch Chhatra Dal. After being appointed in the 32nd Special BCS, he first worked as a Resident Medical Officer (RMO) at Cox’s Bazar Sadar Hospital and later as a junior consultant at Debidwar Upazila Health Complex. Within a few days of joining Debidwar, he became OSD and served in the Mohakhali Health Department.

Later, he rejoined Comilla Medical College Hospital as a junior consultant and became active in the politics of the Doctors Association of Bangladesh (DAB), a pro-BNP doctors’ organization. He served as the joint general secretary of the DAB Comilla Medical College Hospital branch.

However, that committee is currently suspended.

Regarding the video of the Health Minister’s visit, Dr. Riaz said, “I was next to him (the minister), the test he took was very hot, I blew on it to cool it down. Later, I saw that there was a lot of criticism about it, many pages posted it on Facebook. In fact, people don’t know me, they don’t know me. They are commenting without knowing.”

BNP-backed medical leader Dr. Riaz claimed that he did not blow the whistle out of a desire to smack the minister. He said, “There was no such desire or desire as various people are commenting (about smacking). I was just nearby, so I blew it, to cool down. There was no other purpose.”

But this former Chhatra Dal leader did not realize that there would be so much criticism about this issue.

He said, “When we are together, we do many things that are not done with much thought. Why is there so much criticism about it? But from now on, we will be more aware of these things.”