Fake Covid-19 certificates: Regent Group’s PRO placed on 5-day remand

A Dhaka court today placed Regent Group Public Relations Officer Tariqul Islam alias Tareq Shibli on a five-day remand in a case filed over issuing fake Covid-19 certificates and charging patients for treatment.

Metropolitan Magistrate Morshed Al Mamun Bhuiyan passed the order after Md Alamgir Gazi, an inspector of Uttara West Police Station, also the investigation officer of the case, produced him before the court with a seven-day remand prayer.

In the remand prayer, the IO said the accused, in league with others, used to prepare fake Covid-19 certificates and issuedthem to patients.

Moreover, they charged patients for the tests and treatment despite having an agreement with the government on carrying out such tests and providing treatment free of cost, the IO said.

So, he [Shibli]needs to be remanded to find out more vital clues about the incident and to know the whereabouts and addresses of the Regent Group chairman and managing director, the IO added.

On the other hand, no lawyer was present in the court to defend him. Responding to a question, Shibli told the court that he knew about the fake test results which Regent Hospital made.

Rapid Action Battalion in a raid arrested Tareq Shibli from a house in East Nakhalpara area yesterday.

On July 8, Inspector Zulhas Mia of Rab-1 filed the case with Uttara West Police Station against Regent Group Chairman Md Shahed, its MD Masud Parvez and 15 others.

The chairman, managing director and seven others are on the run while Rab arrested eight staffers during their drive at Uttara branch on Monday.

Before filing of the case, the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) directed the authorities of the Regent Hospital to shut down their Uttara branch after a mobile court found discrepancies in dealing with Covid-19 patients.