Gross procurement anomalies
Violation of procurement rules relating to the purchase of medical equipment for Chittagong General Hospital to the tune of Tk7.18 crore has been detected by a probe committee. For instance an MRI machine was bought for Tk9.95crore whereas the manufacturer of the machine in China stated that the cost was Tk2.8crore! It is astonishing to find that the same person, who happens to be the Superintendent of the hospital, was both the head of the procurement committee as well as the chairman of the evaluation committee. Clearly a violation of Public Procurement Rule (PPR)-2008, we are at a loss how this was allowed in the first place. Not only do we have a case of graft here, many of the other equipment bought did not meet the specifications of the tender.
It is good that the probe committee has forwarded the matter to the ACC. The question here is how is it that the same person managed to head both procurement and evaluation committees? There was clearly a conflict of interest, and the breach should have been reported to the higher authorities by any one of those involved in the procurement system before any procurement went ahead. We believe that there is a coterie involved in the corruption.
This is tax payers' money that is being literally stolen by a bunch of thoroughly moral decrepit masquerading as doctors. As the ACC no longer requires prior permission to prosecute government employees, we hope that the Commission will get to the bottom of the racket and prosecute those responsible for the marked up purchase to the full extent of the law.
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