‘Bribes of Tk 3-5 lakh for nurse, doctor transfers, 2cr for directorship’

Health Minister Sardar Md. Sakhawat Hossain has painted a stark picture of past administrative corruption, revealing that bribes were a fixed and expected part of the system.

Speaking as the chief guest at a coordination meeting on law and order, development, and public welfare held in Manikganj on Monday, he said contractors previously even paid peons just to enter the minister’s office. Transfers of nurses and doctors came with set bribe rates – 300,000 to 500,000 taka for a transfer, and 20 million taka to become a director.

“The total scenario was full of corruption. We have to get out of this. We are getting out, inshallah. This is not a one-person job – it’s a collective effort,” he said.

The minister also revealed that during elections under the previous administration, bribes were paid to top officials based on the size of their jurisdictions – UNOs received 5 to 10 million taka, OCs received 10 million, and DCs were paid enormous sums as well.

“Everything was a vast jungle of bribery and corruption,” he said, adding that in the most recent election, not even 10 taka was paid to anyone, and the country is now emerging from that era.

He noted that compared to the past, administrative officers have worked harder this time around – helping restore people’s rights without any financial incentives. Previously, he said, officers were simultaneously threatened with job loss and coerced into accepting unethical benefits to keep political powers satisfied.

“An environment was created where the message was: you have to take, so take; you have to steal, so steal. Those days are gone. Everyone must understand that duties must be carried out with integrity and honesty,” he said.

Turning to the state of the health sector, the minister acknowledged longstanding crises and mismanagement – shortages of doctors, nurses, staff, and modern equipment in hospitals, and billions of taka embezzled under the guise of basic government supplies.

He said that in the six months since taking office, work has begun to address these problems step by step – increasing doctor attendance at hospitals and improving the quality of healthcare services.

Plans include gradually increasing bed capacity at every upazila-level hospital, improving the quality of patient meals, and providing specialized care including separate beds for dialysis patients and children.

“Healthcare will be restructured to bring quality medical services to the doorstep of ordinary people. Initiatives will also be taken to expand health and welfare services down to the union level,” he said.

Reaffirming a zero-tolerance stance on corruption, the minister said every level of society must be freed from it. “A government elected by the people must work with transparency and accountability. Ensuring the rights of the people is the government’s primary responsibility.”