Longstanding irregularities and corruption have almost eaten away at Rajshahi Homoeopathic Medical College and Hospital (RHMCH) allegedly with the involvement of the institution’s principal in some cases. Patients of homeopathy treatment have submitted a complaint about this to the Rajshahi Deputy Commissioner.
RHMCH Principal Dr Yasin Ali’s involvement in corruption allegedly ranges from admitting students to appointing teachers. He has appointed his wife, children, brother-in-law and even his housemaid at the hospital. He even allegedly pockets the monthly newspaper bill without keeping one.
A dynastic chapter
Soon after his appointment as the principal, Yasin has exhibited nepotistic tendencies, appointing his family members to key positions. His wife Sayera Banu is the Vice-principal of the institution while his brother-in-law Jibon Kumar Barik and his son Guljar Hossain are working as teachers. He has also appointed his housekeeper Shawkat Ara Khatun as the hospital’s female attendant who draws a salary regularly without attending work.
Five to six of Yasin’s distant relatives have also secured jobs at the hospital because of him.
The pay discrimination
Of a total of 46 employees at the hospital, none makes more than Tk3,000 a month while many are given even less than that despite their documents showing otherwise. Yasin draws Tk19,200 in monthly pay while his wife draws Tk7,500 monthly. Dissatisfaction prevails at the institution because of the large difference in salary between the principal and the teachers.
Wrong information on teachers
Yasin has registered wrong descriptions of many of the teachers at the hospital’s information guide. In the guide, Dr FMA Jahid has been mentioned as holding a single job at the hospital, though it was found that he also works at Rajshahi University Medical Centre.
Apart from Dr Jahid, Dr Fazlul Haque, Dr Shamsuddin, Obaidur Rahman, Dr Farida Akhter and Nilfuar Yasmin are teachers who all have a second job at state-run institutions but has not been mentioned in the guide. They are enjoying government allowances from two jobs simultaneously.
As for Yasin’s wife, the guide shows she was appointed on August 5, 1995, though the governing body appointed her in 2003.
Conflicting accounts of income and expense
Widespread anomaly has been alleged in the hospital’s account book as Yasin has been said to have put numbers whimsically to adjust an amount of Tk63,50,938. In the amount, inconsistencies were found in earnings from research works, practical classes, internships and testimonials while the principal manipulated the figures to adjust the total amount.
Yasin has also been alleged to have received a 2.5-katha land in bribe from a teacher named Shamim Chowdhury by promising him a job at the hospital. Shamim also confessed to transferring ownership of the land, estimated to be worth over Tk70 lakh, to Yasin.
Mejbah Uddin Chowdhury, president of the RHMCH governing body and Rajshahi Deputy Commissioner, said he had received written complaints about the allegations by the Additional Deputy Commissioner at the latest meeting.
“We are looking into all of the allegations and nobody, after committing an offence, would go unpunished. If allegations are found to be true, we will take immediate action,” he said.
Yasin, however, denied his involvement in any wrongdoing and said all these were a quarter’s ill motive to discredit him. He said he was not involved in any corruption.
