IEDCR director assaulted after promised appointment did not materialise, officials say

The director of the Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR), Professor Dr Kazi Ahmed Zaki, was physically assaulted in his own office last Wednesday, after a promised appointment did not materialise when a new project was delayed in approval. Following the incident, Dr Zahid Hasan was expelled from the Doctors Association of Bangladesh (DAB), and the Health Ministry formed a three-member investigation committee.

On October 28, a group of people entered Professor Kazi Ahmed Zaki's room at IEDCR and beat and harassed him. CCTV footage shows eight to nine people pulling him from his chair and jostling him. Allegations were raised about the involvement of DAB central assistant law secretary Dr Zahid Hasan and several members. Professor Zaki is also a life member of DAB.

Several important meetings were under way at IEDCR on the day of the incident. In the old building, a meeting on rapid response to measles and dengue was being held with civil surgeons from 30 districts and three divisional health directors. In the new building, in the director's room, discussions were being held with representatives of the United States Embassy in Dhaka and various American agencies on measles-rubella vaccines, dengue test kits and rapid response activities for measles and dengue. Officials of the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) were working in the adjacent meeting room.

According to eyewitnesses, the foreign representatives were embarrassed and frightened by the attack on the director and left the venue quickly. This information emerged after speaking with at least five eyewitnesses, including officials and employees, during a visit to IEDCR last Sunday.

Professor Zaki has filed a case at Banani Police Station as the complainant. Dr Zahid Hasan, Dr Basedur Rahman Sohel and 15 to 20 unidentified people have been named as accused in the case.

According to IEDCR records, Dr Zahid Hasan was last appointed as FETPB Program Coordinator under the “Government of Bangladesh Public Health Protection” project. His appointment letter was issued on February 12, 2026, and he was to join on February 15. Although his job was to be regularised after a two-month probation period, his last working day was set as September 30, 2026, in line with the project's tenure. He had previously worked on a Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI)-supported project at IEDCR.

At least four responsible officials of IEDCR and the Directorate General of Health Services said Director Professor Ahmed Zaki had assured Dr Zahid that he would be appointed if a new project was approved. The plan was to appoint him to a Rapid Response Team and Outbreak Investigation Consultant post. That did not happen because the project was not approved. Professor Zaki has also confirmed that he gave Dr Zahid the assurance of appointment in a new project.

Dr Zahid was not in government service; he always worked on a contractual basis in various projects. According to IEDCR officials and employees, he had a long personal acquaintance and closeness with the director. Dr Zahid addressed him as “bhai” (brother). They said they could not imagine such an incident happening after such a relationship.

Two officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said they do not believe that the head of the institution was harassed in his own office only because he did not get the promised job. They suspect there is some other institutional or political reason behind it.

The alleged dispute surrounding former IEDCR director Professor Dr Meerjady Sabrina Flora has also come up in discussions about the harassment of the director. Flora served as IEDCR director and in various important posts in the health sector during the Awami League government. Sources claimed the current director was in contact with former director Sabrina Flora, and several people known to be close to Flora received importance in the institution. Sources said there was also discontent over this.

Attempts to contact Dr Zahid Hasan by mobile phone several times last Sunday found his phone switched off. He is not currently attached to any particular institution. Professor Dr Kazi Ahmed Zaki, the victim of the harassment, said: “A case has been filed on this matter and an investigation is under way. In this situation, it would not be right to comment.”

On Dr Meerjady Sabrina Flora, the director said: “There is no complaint against her. She came to IEDCR one day as a former director. That is not a crime.”

IEDCR is an important national research institution under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. Established in 1976, the institution plays an important role in protecting public health, preventing epidemics and controlling diseases in the country.