Bangladesh orders 100pc attendance and biometric checks at state hospitals

Bangladesh has taken a strict administrative step to ensure the presence of medical professionals across the country's public health sector. In a decisive move directed by the Directorate General of Health Services, all government health institutions and hospitals are now required to enforce a strict policy guaranteeing one hundred percent attendance among their officers and staff members.

To implement this mandatory requirement effectively, the authorities have specifically instructed health facilities to introduce advanced biometric facial recognition technology. This technological upgrade is designed to accurately monitor and record the daily arrival and presence of every physician and healthcare worker operating within the public healthcare network.

The formal directives outlining these new measures were officially communicated through an official letter issued by the Directorate General of Health Services on Thursday, August 20. This administrative push falls under the broader jurisdiction of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and the Health Services Division, aiming to eliminate unauthorized absences in state-run medical facilities.

Financial accountability has also been directly tied to the new attendance monitoring protocols. Following the issuance of the directive, drawing and disbursing officers—commonly known as shongjukto ayon-byayon কর্মকর্তারা—have been strictly instructed to release monthly salary bills for physicians and healthcare workers only after their physical presence and attendance have been thoroughly verified.

Furthermore, the regulatory framework establishes a clear penalty for absenteeism within the state medical system. The official guidelines explicitly state that salary bills cannot be issued or processed for any doctor found absent from their designated workplace until that specific instance of absence has been formally resolved and settled through administrative channels.