Corruption in Procurement: ACC asks cabinet to blacklist 13 medical equipment suppliers
Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has requested the cabinet to take necessary steps to blacklist all medical equipment suppliers who are accused in corruption cases for misappropriation of about Tk 108 crore public money from different projects in the health sector.
ACC Secretary Dilwar Bakth, in a letter to the cabinet secretary, said allegations of irregularities and graft often surface over procurement of Medical and Surgical Requisites (MSR), heavy machinery and other goods for medical colleges, hospitals and institutions.
The Daily Star has obtained a copy of the letter sent to the cabinet on December 12.
“The letter was sent to the cabinet division on Thursday,” said Pranab Kumar Bhattacharya, ACC’s public relations officer.
The organisations are: Rahman Trade International, Anik Traders, Ahmed Enterprize, Manila Medicine, SK Traders, MH Pharma, Ovi Drugs, Albira Pharmacy, SM Traders, Mercantile Trade International, Bengal Scientific and Surgical, Universal Trade Corporation, ASL and Blair Aviation.
It was found during inquiry that a group of dishonest officials and staff of the directorate of health and its other organisations have procured unnecessary MSR, heavy machinery and service several times at higher rates than market price.
“There have also been instances of taking money without supplying the goods,” reads the letter. In such cases, the contractors create a syndicate that takes part in the tender process, it said.
“Because of these syndicates, goods are procured at prices several times higher than usual, which creates scope of misuse as well as misappropriation of public money,” it added.
ACC listed the cases that were filed by them in the last several years in this connection, and attached a list of the firms allegedly involved in the misappropriation.
The letter said, “To ensure proper use of public money, to bring transparency in procurement and prevent ongoing corruption, forgery and conspiracy, ACC thinks the listed firms needs to be blacklisted.”
The anti-graft watchdog filed two separate cases against suspended Directorate General of Health Services employees Abzal Hossain and his wife Rubina Khanam this year, for misappropriating about Tk 43.40 crore from procurement for various projects.
According to the case statements, Rubina founded Rahman Trade International and apparel store Rupa Fashion. In the name of the businesses, the couple opened several accounts with different banks and deposited Tk 284 crore there.
In November, ACC filed a case against six persons including owners of Anik Traders and Ahmed Enterprise -- Abullah Al Mamun and Munsi Farrukh Hossain -- for misappropriation of Tk 10 crore from procurement of equipment and machinery for Faridpur Medical College and Hospital.
ACC filed cases against owner of Manila medicine and SK Traders Manjur Ahmed, Mosaddek Hossain of MH Pharma, Joynal Abedin of Ovi Drugs, Alamgir Hossain of Albira Pharmacy and Md Mintu of SM Traders for embezzling about Tk 18.13 crore from different projects for Rangpur Medical College Hosptial.
The anti-graft watchdog also filed cases against Abdus Sattar Sarkar and Ahsan Habib, owners of Mercantile Trade International, Jaher Uddin Sarkar of Bengal Scientific and Surgical, Asadur Rahman of Universal Trader Corporation in separate cases that include misappropriation of about Tk 36.3 crore from procurement of Satkhira Medical College Hospital, Rangpur Medical College Hospital and Chattogram General Hospital.
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