Directorate General of Health Services (Bangladesh)

The DGHS was established as a directorate in 1978. It was upgraded to a directorate general in 1980.^[4]

On 23 January 2019, the Anti-Corruption Commission began investigating 23 officers at the DGHS for corruption and recommended their transfers.^[5]

Director General of DGHS Abul Kalam Azad resigned on 22 July 2020 after Regent Hospital was raided for providing fake COVID-19-free certificates.^[6] The hospital was shut down by the DGHS on 8 July after a raid by the Rapid Action Battalion.^[7] The DGHS and the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare traded blame over the Regent Hospital scandal. The DGHS signed a memorandum of understanding with Regent Hospital in March 2020, and the signing ceremony was attended by Minister of Health and Family Welfare Zahid Maleque.^[8] Another organization issuing fake COVID-19 certificates was JKG Healthcare. Officials at The DGHS requested JKG Healthcare to submit a proposal to collect COVID-19 samples for a scheme to siphon off from the 5 billion emergency COVID-19 fund.^[9] CEO of JKG Healthcare, Ariful Chaudhury and his wife and chairperson of JKG, Sabrina Arif Chaudhury, were arrested by police for issuing fake COVID-19 certificates.^[10][11]

Abul Bashar Mohammed Khurshid Alam is appointed as director general on 23 July 2020.^[12] Alam criticised media coverage on the healthcare system and the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.^[13] The Anti-Corruption Commission arrested Abzal Hossain, who worked for the Institute of Health Technology of the DGHS.^[14] The Commission found 2.84 billion taka in his and his wife's accounts.^[14] Khurshid Alam tested positive for COVID-19 in March 2021.^[15]

DGHS claimed in December 2020 that Bangladesh will receive 68 million vaccines for the COVID-19 pandemic in Bangladesh from GAVI under COVAX and an additional 30 million from Serum Institute of India.^[16]

Malek started working as a driver in the DGHS in 1982.^[14] He came to prominence after Syed Modasser Ali became director general of the DGHS as his close aid.^[14] In 2009, he worked as the personal driver of the director general of the DGHS, Shah Monir Hossain.^[14] He lobbied for 100 assistant director posts in Upazilas of Bangladesh.^[14] He made a few billion taka and provided a percentage to Shah Monir Hossain.^[14] Hossain was replaced by Khondokar Md Shefayetullah as director general of the DGHS.^[14] Shafeyetullah created a canteen for third- and fourth-class employees of the directorate, which Malek turned into his personal office.^[14] Malek then worked as the personal driver of AHM Enayet Hossain, additional director general of the DGHS.^[14] Enayet was made director general of the Directorate General of Medical Education, and Malek was transferred; he still continued to work for Enayet.^[14][17][18]

Malek maintained close relations with President of Bangladesh Medical Association Mustafa Jalal Mohiuddin.^[14] Malek was detained in September 2020 by Rapid Action Battalion.^[14] He was suspended by the DGHS following his arrest.^[19][20] Their investigation revealed that he had accumulated around 10 billion taka.^[14] Malek was known as the shadow director general of the DGHS.^[21][22] He also used to maintain a good relationship with Swadhinata Chikitshak Parishad.^[21][23] Directorate General of Medical Education and AHM Enayet Hossain denied any involvement with Malek in an official statement.^[24] In February 2021, the Anti-Corruption Commission sued Malek for hiding information on his wealth, and another case was filed against him and his wife for possessing wealth beyond their known source of income.^[25][26] In March 2021, Malek was charged with possessing illegal weapons and ammunition by a tribunal in Dhaka.^[27]

The office is led by the director general (DG). He is assisted by two additional director generals (ADG), directors, line directors, deputy directors, other officers & supporting staff.^[4]