Health watchdog remains invisible

The parliamentary standing committee on health ministry has shown nothing short of indifference to the health emergency caused by the pandemic.

It had not held a single meeting, let alone make a visible move since March when the first cases of the coronavirus were detected in the country, putting the healthcare services under strain and exposing corruption and mismanagement in the health sector.

Since it was formed in January 2019, the JS body met only six times, officials said. As a result, the committee could not ensure accountability and transparency in the health ministry.

But the picture is different for other committees. Different parliamentary bodies held at least 132 meetings since late March.

According to JS procedure rules, a standing committee must meet at least once a month.

There are 39 parliamentary standing committees that are supposed to examine bills, review different activities of the ministry concerned, enquire into irregularities, and make recommendations.

MP Muhibur Rahman Manik, a member of the standing committee on health ministry, said they have contacted the committee chief about media reports on the committee's lack of initiatives.

"We cannot call for meetings. The committee chief can," he added.

Committee Chairman Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim said he couldn't hold meetings because the committee members live in different places.

"After holding a meeting on March 24, we had fixed a date for the next meeting. But that could not happen due to the countrywide lockdown from late March," he told The Daily Star.

"Later, we couldn't hold meetings as many officials and security personnel of parliament tested positive for Covid-19. We are waiting to see whether the Covid-19 situation becomes normal," said Selim, also a presidium member of the ruling Awami League.

Asked whether he will call for a meeting soon, he said he would talk to the committee members in this regard.

Over 7,300 people have died with Covid-19 and more than five lakh got infected in the country.

Hundreds of new cases are still being detected every day in Bangladesh.

On top of the government's initial mishandling of the situation, mismanagement and irregularities made the battle against the outbreak more difficult.

Reports of misappropriation of money during procurement of medical equipment became common. Fraudulent activities by Regent Hospital and JKG Health Care over tests and resignation of former director general of Directorate General of Health Services added fuel to the fire.

But none of these could draw the attention of the health watchdog.

As the government is procuring vaccines and taking preparations to tackle a possible surge of infections in winter, the role of the JS body becomes all too crucial.

Contacted, Speaker of the Jatiya Sangsad Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury said she would talk to the chief of the parliamentary body concerned.

"Let's see what can be done," she told The Daily Star.

About the meetings of other committees, she said maybe they have the courage to hold the meeting, but the committee members of the health ministry may still feel unsafe to come out and hold meetings.

"A few members and chairmen have expressed such concerns. Given the situation, we cannot insist anyone to come and hold a meeting despite the health concerns."

The speaker said some standing committee chairmen have sought permission to hold meetings virtually.

"But the rules of procedure of our parliament does not mention anything about it. It's a new and unanticipated thing. That's why we haven't made a decision yet," she said.

"I am trying to look into how the privacy of the meetings would be ensured and what parliaments in other countries are doing."

Iftekharuzzaman, executive director of Transparency International Bangladesh, said it's shocking and surprising for people to see the indifference of the JS committee on health ministry.

The standing committees are usually inactive and ineffective, he told The Daily Star.

But the committee on the health ministry should not be so indifferent at a time of a national crisis, he said.