Fake Mask Scam: DU official placed on three-day remand

A Dhaka court yesterday placed Sharmin Jahan, proprietor of Aparajita International, on a three-day remand in a case filed over supplying fake N95 masks to BSMMU's Covid-19 isolation unit.

Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Md Moinul Islam passed the order after Shah Md Akhteruzzaman Ilias, an inspector of Detective Branch of police and the investigation officer of the case, produced her before the court with a three-day remand prayer.

Sharmin, currently working as an assistant registrar at Dhaka University (DU), was arrested from the capital's Shahbagh area on Friday.

During yesterday's hearing, the magistrate asked Sharmin whether she could run a business while holding the post of assistant registrar of DU, but the accused remained silent.

However, claiming herself innocent, Sharmin told the court that she was framed.

The authorities of BSMMU did not say anything about the quality of the masks in the first two consignments, she said.

In the remand prayer, the IO said that the accused, in association with another accused, produced fake N95 masks and supplied those to the isolation unit of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU).

So, the accused needs to be remanded to gather information about others responsible for such offences, the IO added.

On the other hand, defence submitted a petition, seeking bail and cancellation of the remand prayer on grounds that their client was innocent.

After hearing both the sides, the magistrate rejected the bail petition and granted her remand.

BSMMU Proctor Prof Syed Mozaffar Ahmed filed the case against Sharmin Jahan, a member of Awami League's Central Sub-Committee on Women and Children, with Shahbagh Police Station on Thursday night.