5,000 Ansar Deployed without Accommodation
Graphics: Agamir Somoy
Conflicts involving doctors, nurses, staff, and patients had become a regular occurrence at upazila health complexes. Tensions would sometimes erupt with doctors, sometimes with nurses, and at other times with staff members. To help manage such situations, authorities deployed nearly 5,000 Ansar members to 500 upazila health complexes. However, these personnel, who arrived to ensure security at the hospitals, have no minimum accommodation facilities. Some are staying in garages, some in abandoned rooms, and others in temporary shelters.
Ansar members have been reporting to various health complexes with their posting orders. According to those concerned, most upazila health complexes do not even have adequate accommodation for their own doctors, nurses, and staff. Under such circumstances, arranging housing for an additional 10 Ansar members has become nearly impossible.
The Agamir Somoy correspondent spoke with several upazila health officials. They said the decision to deploy Ansar members to strengthen security was a positive one. However, they questioned where the members would stay and how accommodation would be arranged for them, noting that no guidance had been provided on the matter. As a result, the entire responsibility has fallen on the health complexes. Authorities at the complexes are struggling to arrange accommodation for so many people on short notice. In some places, they are staying at vehicle garages; in others, in abandoned rooms, attic spaces, or temporary quarters. Since authorities did not plan in advance for accommodation, meals, and other logistical support for the Ansar members, administrative complications emerged from the outset.
The correspondent spoke with both Health Minister Mohammad Sakhawat Hossain and Health Services Division Secretary Mohammad Kamruzzaman Chowdhury about the issue. Among them, the secretary placed responsibility on the health complex authorities. He said, “Health officials demanded the deployment of Ansar members at upazila health complexes. They will provide security and protect government property. Why should barracks be built for them? Do medical institutions have barracks? Is there a shortage of space at hospitals? This was their demand, so they must ensure accommodation for the Ansar members.”
At a program held last Wednesday at the headquarters of the Bangladesh Ansar and Village Defense Force, officials announced that 5,000 armed Ansar members had been deployed to 500 upazila health complexes across the country. Each hospital will have one platoon commander, one assistant platoon commander, and eight Ansar members on duty around the clock. The Ansar personnel will play an effective role in maintaining discipline and security at healthcare facilities, ensuring uninterrupted services for patients, and preventing broker syndicates, illegal ambulance businesses, drug-related networks, and various other criminal activities.
Responding to a question, Dr. KM Abdullah Al-Mamun, Upazila Health and Family Planning Officer of Dowarabazar in Sunamganj, said, “Ten Ansar members have arrived. A nurse had been staying in one of our quarters. We relocated her and accommodated seven of them there. There was a driver’s room above the garage, where we housed three others. For now, we have somehow managed to arrange accommodation for them.”
On condition of anonymity, a health official from the Dhaka Division said, “Ten Ansar members suddenly arrived and assumed duty without any prior preparation. But there is no accommodation for them, which has placed us in an embarrassing situation. Since we could not arrange housing, we sent them on leave. It would have been better if authorities had ensured barracks or accommodation at the upazila level before posting them.”
Dr. Md. Gias Uddin Khan, Upazila Health and Family Planning Officer of Pangsha, said, “The Ansar members are staying in hospital quarters. They will continue to stay there until barracks are arranged.”
Health Minister Sakhawat Hossain, MP, told Agamir Somoy that 5,000 armed Ansar members had been deployed and had already reached their respective workplaces. Asked what would happen regarding their accommodation, he said arrangements would be made soon. When asked when that would happen, he replied, “I do not know exactly when.”
Upazila health complexes have long faced various security-related problems. Health officials had been demanding the deployment of armed Ansar members for years due to attacks by patients’ relatives, harassment of doctors and healthcare workers, and the influence of broker syndicates.
The demand gained further momentum after an attack on a doctor at Shariatpur Sadar Hospital in May and the assault of a physician at Panchagarh Sadar Hospital in April.
Since the deployment of Ansar members, the discipline situation at upazila health complexes has improved. The entry and movement of unnecessary visitors, other than patients’ attendants, have decreased. The influence of brokers has come under control, and overall order has returned to hospital management, including the regulation of vehicle parking on hospital premises.
Dr. Al-Amin Sarwar, Upazila Health Officer of Madhukhali, told Agamir Somoy, “Discipline has returned to the hospital since the deployment of Ansar members. In particular, the entry and movement of unnecessary people have declined. The influence of brokers has also been brought largely under control. If the Ansar members perform their duties honestly, the hospital environment will improve further. However, accommodation remains a problem, and I hope it will be resolved quickly.” He added, “The deployment of armed Ansar members has been one of our longstanding demands.”
