10 July 2021, Sat, 12:20

Dhaka’s Civil Surgeon directs not to share healthcare related information to the media; Secretary General condemns

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami’s Secretary General and former lawmaker Professor Mia Golam Porwar has issued the following statement on 10 July 2021 protesting and condemning the embargo imposed by the civil surgeon of Dhaka district on delivering information regarding healthcare activities and patients latest updates.

“On 8 July, Civil Surgeon of Dhaka district Dr. Abu Hossain Mohammad Moinul Ahsan issued a directive not to deliver or notify any information to the electronic and Print Media in regards to the healthcare activities and patients latest updates in Dhaka’s hospitals. It is nothing but an untoward interference against the uninterrupted flow of information to the mass media.

The citizens of Bangladesh do have all the rights to know the information about healthcare facilities. The civil surgeon’s directives not to share any information to the electronic and Print Media in regards to the healthcare activities and patient’s updates is totally unlawful and it goes against the spirit of media’s freedom. We are vehemently condemning such unethical and arrogant directives of the civil surgeon.

While the countrymen are passing days amid severe panic due to massive deterioration of covid-19 pandemic situation, the journalists of the print, electronic and online media have been working relentlessly to create awareness among the people. They are working hard to expose the existing crisis, mismanagement and irregularities of the public and private hospitals. The reporters are the frontline warriors in the ongoing war against corona virus. We firmly believe that, for the sake of overall security of the countrymen, all healthcare related information should be delivered to the journalists.

I am urging the concerned authorities to repeal the directives of the civil surgeon for not sharing information to the media in regards to the healthcare activities and treatment facilities.