Medical College Professor Suspended After Explosive Comments

Enam Medical College and Hospital has suspended a senior physician following a wave of public outrage sparked by his derogatory remarks about the late Sharif Mohammad Osman Hadi, a prominent leader of the July mass uprising and spokesperson for the Inqilab Mancha platform. The incident has reignited debate over professional ethics, political intolerance and responsible conduct on social media.

The physician in question, Professor Dr Tajin Afroze Shah of the Department of Medicine, was placed on temporary suspension on Friday, 19 December. Alongside the suspension, the institution issued a formal show-cause notice, instructing him to explain within seven working days why he should not be permanently dismissed from service.

According to an official notice signed by Professor Dr Md Motahar Hossain Bhuiyan, Principal of Enam Medical College, Dr Shah was suspended for posting “objectionable, offensive and professionally unethical comments” on Facebook concerning the late Osman Hadi. The order states that the suspension takes effect from 19 December 2025 and will remain in force pending further disciplinary proceedings.

Copies of the notice have been forwarded to the Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, Director, Executive Director (Finance), Head of the Department of Medicine, and the institution’s accounts division—underscoring the seriousness with which the authorities are treating the matter.

The controversy arose a day earlier, on Thursday, 18 December, when a Facebook user named Nipun Hazra published a post reflecting on the death of Osman Hadi, describing it as a tragic and shameful chapter in Bangladesh’s political history. In the comments section of that post, Dr Shah responded with remarks that were widely perceived as inflammatory and dehumanising, referring to Hadi using deeply derogatory terms and expressing “zero sympathy” for his death.

When another user pointed out that no death should be celebrated, regardless of political differences, Dr Shah allegedly doubled down, stating that Hadi’s death was “well deserved” and lamenting that he had not suffered longer. Screenshots of the exchange circulated rapidly across social media platforms, triggering sharp criticism from civil society members, activists and fellow professionals.

Many commentators argued that such language from a senior medical academic violated the ethical standards expected of physicians, whose profession is grounded in compassion, restraint and respect for human dignity. Critics also recalled that Dr Shah had previously courted controversy for making disparaging comments about the July uprising, suggesting a pattern of behaviour.

The incident has once again highlighted the fine line professionals must navigate when expressing political opinions online, particularly in a polarised climate where words can inflame tensions and undermine institutional credibility.

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