Regent Hospital Scam: ACC quizzes former DGHS boss for 2nd consecutive day
The Anti-Corruption Commission quizzed former Director General of the Directorate General of Health Services Abul Kalam Azad over the Regent Hospital scam yesterday for the second straight day.
A team led by ACC Director Sheikh Md Fanafillah interrogated Azad for five hours at the ACC's Segunbagicha Headquarters.
Later, Azad read out a statement to the media, saying the anti-graft body interrogated him as part of their investigation into the corruption allegation against Regent Hospital.
"I want to make it clear that if anyone is involved in corruption, they will certainly get punished. I'm ready to cooperate," he said.
"Since the matter is under investigation, it won't be appropriate to say any more at the moment," Azad also said.
ACC's Public Relations Officer Pranab Kumar Bhattacharya said, "Our officers have gleaned information. But for the sake of proper enquiry, we cannot disclose it at this moment."
On Wednesday, ACC's Director Mir Md Zainul Abedin Shebly quizzed former DGHS DG for allegedly misappropriating a huge sum during the procurement of substandard masks, PPEs and other equipment for the doctors involved in Covid-19 treatment.
Amid severe criticism and scams related to Covid-19 testing, Azad stepped down as the director general of the DGHS on July 21.
Yesterday he told journalists that he had resigned nine months before the end of his tenure as he prioritised self-esteem over everything else.
Prof Azad had been the DGHS chief since September 2016.
The resignation came amid a rift between the health ministry and the health directorate over signing a deal with Regent Hospital, which has been at the centre of the Covid-19 testing scam.
The DGHS signed an MoU with Regent in March, turning it into a dedicated Covid-19 hospital, in a ceremony attended by Health Minister Zahid Maleque and many high officials.
The DGHS was aware that the hospital's licence had expired six years ago.
On July 7, a Rab mobile court raided Regent Hospital's Uttara branch and sealed it off. The court said it found proof that the hospital issued several thousand fake Covid-19 test reports, which prompted the rift.
The branch was sealed off in connection with issuing fake Covid-19 test certificates and collecting money from patients.
Later, the DGHS shut down the hospital's branches in Uttara and Mirpur.