A Facebook post by Dr. Syed Abu Ahmad Shafi, Deputy Director of the Directorate General of Health Services, has triggered strong criticism from the Bangladesh Health Reporters Forum (BHRF). On June 24, 2026, he wrote that journalists should be assigned to clean bathrooms and toilets in 600 district and upazila hospitals for at least one fiscal year. He added that if they succeeded, the responsibility could be made permanent. The post was later deleted after drawing backlash.

When contacted by phone, Dr. Shafi said his comment was meant to spark discussion about hospital cleanliness and that the health department alone should not bear the blame. He claimed journalists often fail to present the full picture of hospital management issues. After the controversy, he removed the post, saying he did so because some journalist acquaintances were hurt by it.

In a statement, BHRF President Protique Ejaz and General Secretary Mujahid Shubho condemned the remark as irresponsible and derogatory, saying it undermined both journalists and the media’s role in exposing problems in the health sector.