Students from several educational institutions on Sunday staged a sit-in in front of the Barishal Civil Surgeon's Office and locked it later, demanding the cancellation of the appointment of newly appointed chief health officer of the district – Dr Md Moniruzzaman.
The protesters gathered around 10:00am, alleging that Dr Moniruzzaman, a former leader of the Swadhinata Chikitsak Parishad and an officer they described as a beneficiary of the previous fascist regime, should not have been appointed to the key public health post.
They also alleged that while serving as the Upazila Health and Family Planning Officer at Gournadi Upazila Health Complex, he had faced various allegations, including abuse of authority and administrative irregularities.
After staging the sit-in, the students went to the Civil Surgeon's office and found that Dr Moniruzzaman did not join his new workplace. They then symbolically locked the door of the office room designated for him.
Sabbir Hossain, a student of BM College who joined the protest, said appointing an official facing multiple allegations to head the health department of an important district like Barishal is unacceptable.
"We want a competent, honest and controversy-free officer to be appointed as the Civil Surgeon," he said.
Another student, Labanya Akter, said the people of Barishal deserve quality healthcare services and called for the appointment of a new Civil Surgeon in the public interest.
Student Nayeem Islam alleged that Dr Moniruzzaman had oppressed students during the previous government and said they do not want a "repressive and corrupt official" to serve in Barishal.
The protesters reiterated their demand for the immediate withdrawal of Dr Moniruzzaman, warning that tougher protest programmes will be launched if their demand is not met.
The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on July 21 appointed Dr Moniruzzaman, who had been serving as an officer on special duty (OSD) attached to the Directorate General of Health Services after previously working at Gournadi Upazila Health Complex, as the Civil Surgeon of Barishal.