A doctor at Mymensingh Medical College Hospital has issued an unconditional apology after being served a show-cause notice for getting into an argument with the Director General (DG) of the Directorate General of Health Services, Dr Md Abu Jafar, during the DG’s visit. Dr Dhandeb Chandra Barman submitted his written reply to the hospital director around 11am on Sunday.

Confirming the matter over the phone, Dhandeb said he had received the notice in the morning and immediately submitted his response. “The DG is an elderly person. I should have shown more respect. In my reply, I sincerely apologised and asked for unconditional pardon,” he said.

The incident occurred on Saturday when the DG arrived at the medical college to attend a seminar as the chief guest. Before the event, he inspected different sections of the hospital. During his visit to the casualty operation theatre, he asked the doctors why a table was placed inside the room. At that point, Dhandeb, who was in charge of the casualty unit, got into a verbal exchange with him.

Dhandeb has been serving as the head of the hospital’s one-stop service since 8 August 2023. He was promoted from residential surgeon to assistant professor in July this year. Following Saturday’s confrontation, he was relieved of his responsibilities and issued a show-cause notice.

Speaking to the media shortly after the incident, Dhandeb had said he expected more courteous behaviour from the DG. “Instead of asking about the problems we face here, he questioned why there was a table inside. That upset me,” he said. He added that many of his peers had already become professors while his own career progression had been slower, which had left him frustrated. “If I am suspended over this, I won’t mind,” he remarked.

Hospital authorities issued the notice on Saturday afternoon, asking him to explain within 24 hours why action should not be taken for misconduct toward a senior officer. Assistant Director (Administration) Mainuddin Khan said on Sunday that the doctor had already been removed from his post and that further action would be determined by higher authorities.