Noman Sabit: Bangladeshi doctor expatriate in New York accused of molesting underage girls in the name of physical examination without a meeting schedule, violating the rules and regulations of the medical profession. Dr. Ferdous Khandker’s professional license was revoked by the New York State Department of Health’s Office of Professional Medical Conduct (OPMC) under the Board for Professional Medical Conduct (BPMC). Adolescent and female patients were often sexually harassed in his chambers in the name of physical examination. It has also been alleged that the Bangladeshi doctor, who is involved in various misdeeds including sexual abuse of teenage patients and graphic information, misused his power and made a lot of money by committing insurance fraud.
Haniam Maria, a resident of New York, shared a link on her Facebook post in June 2020 with a poster of a signature campaign against Ferdous Khandker at the request of human rights organization Change.org. Hundreds of men and women signed the petition demanding the revocation of Ferdous Khandker’s professional license.
The applicants mentioned Dr. Ferdous Khandker more than a dozen teenagers and women have come forward accusing of sexual harassment while visiting his office in Jackson Heights. They complained that Dr. Ferdous is not a pediatrician and cannot legally see anyone under the age of 18. But he continued to perform physical examinations on many underage teenagers. However, he is currently highly criticized by the Bengali community. According to victims and online reviews, he abused his medical powers and committed insurance fraud to molesting women in a variety of ways. He is involved in various crimes including sexual abuse, child abuse, graphic information.
The Office of Professional Medical Conduct (OPMC) issued a directive to cancel the professional license on July 24, but it was implemented on October 15. It is said that he has also submitted a bond to the OPMC admitting the description of the complaint.
A victim recalled a story that happened to Dr. Ferdous when she was 14 years old. She said ‘Dr. Ferdous is not my PCP, yet I only went to him. Me and my mother were in the room. He came in and came behind me to my mother who was sitting on the chair and blocked her from my view. The way he stood, he was covering me. He took the stethoscope and went straight to my breast and rubbed it around. He didn’t check my lungs or listen to my heartbeat. He looked at me in a very disgusting way. I was very shocked and scared. I just couldn’t believe what had happened. I was a teenager, but at that age I knew that this doctor had not examined me properly. He asked me if I had a cough and suggested giving me some prescription medicine. He didn’t even take the time to ask how I was feeling or what was wrong with me. He touched my breast and left. I was too scared to speak then. I was also in denial because he is a well-known doctor in my community, I knew no one would believe my story.
Another personal account of the victims happened two years ago when she was new to this country by one of her friends, ‘So in 2017-18 I was a new immigrant and the woman I was with changed me from my PCP to Dr. Khandkar is called the best. At that time I used to do incomplete checkups for nipples. I went to him to get a reference for OBGYN. When I was talking to her, my aunt and my elder sister, who is also a doctor in Bangladesh, were in the room with me. I told him about other problems I was experiencing like how my eyes were watering and hurting for a while because of the cold. As I was talking, he started probing my breast, interrogating where it hurt. I never told him it would hurt there to begin with. I just told him my checkup in Bangladesh is incomplete so I want to see OBGYN. He didn’t ask my permission and I immediately moved away from him. I never got it checked out after that because he didn’t refer me to anyone and I wasn’t given any new medication.
The 2nd time, my mom went for her checkup, took me with her, and made me do my checkup after getting my blood test. I was there only for my mother. I did not need to communicate with him. He found me and called me and my mother. He continued chit chatting casually and while doing so he brushed my chest multiple times. I feel very uncomfortable. I started getting hard as she held my wrist the whole time. He then proceeded to touch my mother’s face as she said she hadn’t been to her dentist yet ‘jokingly’, then the same woman who was my housemate, shared her own story that the doctor had touched her breasts as well. Recently this girl before the start of the epidemic. Dr.Ferdous Khandker visited the office. This is her story.
This incident took place on February 5, 2020. I go for regular checkups with mom. My mother has known this doctor (Khandker) for more than 15 years. So, I went to him all the time since he was our PCP. He used to make vulgar and sexual jokes with my mother all the time, but she would ignore it or laugh it off and say it was just her personality. These sex jokes made me uncomfortable. I was waiting for my mother outside my office. He should have a checkup. But I decided since I’ve been here before I might as well check it out. I went to Dr. Khandker asked him if I should also checkup? He said of course you should, and ‘I’ll do it. I didn’t have to wait or even make an appointment, he took me right to his office and started looking at me with bad habits. I let go. Then he pulled the stethoscope towards me. He even pulled up my T-shirt without asking for my consent. He has never done such a thing till date. I was quite uncomfortable and tried to pull my t-shirt down. He started laughing at me and making comments about my bra. He stares at my nipples for a minute and I try to push him away.
Then he just smirked at my nipples.That’s when I lost it and pushed him hard. He realized I was mad and tried to explain the situation and said you can call mom if you want. Prescribe me some vitamins etc, I don’t remember saying anything else at that moment I was shaking. Mom came in and was asking her about my health, but I quickly got her out. If they check the CCTV from that day, you will see that I went in with a smiling face and came out scared.
I told my mom everything and she wanted to go in and confront him. I was so scared and ashamed of the incident that I didn’t want to make a scene out of it. So, my mom called his office and he said, Let me call you a little bit. I guess he didn’t want this conversation to be recorded. He tried to convince my mother how much he cares for my mother and he tried to deceive us. Mom hung up the phone.
However, he called back 2/3 times and we didn’t pick up. Later, it totally messed me up. I couldn’t stand up for myself, the fact that this happened to me was still killing me inside. I’m having nightmares and anxiety attacks and I’ve decided I’m going to speak up and stop this guy from harassing another woman again.
There are many other testimonials with similar patterns whereby he lifted the patient’s kameez or shirt and then touched their breasts inappropriately. He also misdiagnosed many patients due to negligence. He gave them the wrong medication, refused to pay attention to their health problems, and in one case was even texting and laughing on his phone when an elderly patient tried to tell him what was wrong with him.
He almost killed my grandfathers. He is known to neglect elderly and male patients and pays special attention to girls. I took my grandpa to her for a doctor’s appointment two years ago and she was texting on her cell phone the entire time my grandpa was telling her what was wrong. I yelled at him and put down his phone and left with dad. If I had recorded him a month later my grandfather was in a coma because this man was misdiagnosed and the doctors at Mount Sinai informed us that he was taking the wrong medicine. This guy commits insurance fraud by only charging insurance companies but not treating his patients properly or even physically seeing them. He is a corrupt doctor and needs to be exposed. His victims deserve justice.
On June 25, 2020, Instagram user, Jellijamy posted about a friend of his who was the first person to become at the age of 15. She shared her story of what happened at the hands of Dr. Ferdous Khandker. After this story was posted, many women came forward with their own personal trauma stories with this physician. Many of these include Bangladeshi women who are students, daughters, sisters, wives, mothers, aunts who are too afraid to speak against him and wish to remain anonymous to avoid the backlash of this man and his large number of followers. He is well known in the Bangladeshi community due to his extensive media presence from his personal website, where he claims to be linked to Mount Sinai Hospital, YouTube, Facebook, and even newsletters. Please help these victims share their stories and get justice.
We need to raise awareness about these people. Sign this petition so we can stop this doctor from assaulting more innocent victims who are just seeking professional help. No one should go to a doctor’s office and feel violated and traumatized for the rest of their lives.
Dr. Ferdous Khandker was born in Debidwar, Comilla. He spent his childhood there. Father Faiz Khandaker is a retired Air Force officer and mother Anwara Begum is a housewife. He has no brother, 2 sisters live in America. Older sister Farah Khandaker lives in Florida and younger sister Sarah Khandaker lives in New York. He got married in 1998. Wife Anjuman Ara Begum. Responsible for office management. They have 2 sons named Aqib Khandakar and Naqib Khandakar.
He received his MBBS degree in Medicine from Chittagong Medical College in 1997 and completed his internship in 1998. After coming to the United States in 1999, he studied for one more year. He then trained for three years in internal medicine and one year in geriatrics.
Seven years ago in New York Dr. Ferdous Khandker had two chambers. One in Jackson Heights and the other in Brooklyn. He had a total of over 35,000 registered patients in the two chambers. Of these, 28,000 were in Jackson Heights and 7,000 in Brooklyn. Dr. Ferdous said that the number of patients was increasing day by day. As a result, he had to hire a new doctor. Dr.Zahedul Abedin was a pediatrician under him. Dr. Soheli Azad (Dental), Dr. Aslam Kamal (cardiologist) and Dr. Ataul Osmani (Medicine), also 2 more Medical Assistants. They are Shammi Chowdhury and Aksa Asif.
Dr. Ferdous Khandker served as the president of US-based NGO ‘The Optimist’ for a long time. He was also the treasurer of Chittagong Medical College Alumni Association in New York.
BP/SM
