The Bangladesh Medical and Dental Council (BMDC) has issued a show cause notice to Dr. SM Khaliduzzaman, Chairman of Bangladesh Fertility Hospital, for allegedly using an unauthorized medical degree in his clinical practice and promotional materials.
Dr. SM Khaliduzzaman, who was a parliamentary candidate for the Dhaka-17 constituency representing Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, is accused of using a degree titled “MSc in Clinical Embryology & Pre-implantation Genetics (India)” which is not recognized by the regulatory body.
The Allegations
The notice, signed by BMDC Acting Registrar Dr. Liakat Hossain on Monday (January 19), stated that a formal complaint was lodged by an individual named Abdul Kader from Azimpur, Dhaka. The complainant provided copies of promotional leaflets where the unrecognized degree was prominently displayed alongside the doctor’s name.
According to the BMDC, practicing medicine with a degree not recognized by the council is equivalent to deceiving patients and is a punishable offense under the Bangladesh Medical and Dental Council Act, 2010.
Legal Framework
The show cause notice cited specific sections of the 2010 Act:
- Section 13: Mandates that any postgraduate degree or diploma obtained from home or abroad must be recognized by the Council if the practitioner wishes to use it in Bangladesh.
- Section 29: Prohibits registered physicians from using titles, descriptions, or symbols that suggest additional professional qualifications unless they are recognized by the BMDC.
Violation of these provisions is a criminal offense, carrying a potential penalty of three years of imprisonment, a fine of 100,000 BDT, or both. Continued violations can result in an additional fine of 50,000 BDT for each occurrence.
Response from Dr. SM Khaliduzzaman
When contacted regarding the notice, Dr. SM Khaliduzzaman told the media that he had not yet received the formal document. He dismissed the allegations as baseless and politically motivated.
“There is no truth to these claims. This is a move to harass me politically,” he stated. He further defended his professional record, saying, “Our service success rate is among the highest, maintaining international standards. I have previously worked at Evercare Hospital and Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU).”
The BMDC has directed the physician to submit a written explanation within 15 working days, including his official registration number.
