Fake Covid-19 certificates: 8 Regent employees placed on 2-day remand

A Dhaka court today placed eight officials and employees of Regent Group on a two-day fresh remand each in a case filed for issuing fake Covid-19 certificates and illegally charging patients for testing and treatment.

The accused are: Regent Group project officer Rakibul Islam Sumon, human resources officer Amit Banik, health technologists Ahsan Habib Hasan and Hatim Ali, administrative officer Ahsan Habib, employee Abdur Rashid Khan Jewel and driver Abdus Salam and Regent Hospital Uttara Branch Managing Director Md Mizanur Rahman.

Metropolitan Magistrate Morshed Al Mamun Bhuiyan passed the after senior assistant SP Md Nazmul Haque, of Rapid Action Battalion and also the investigation officer (IO) of the case, produced them before his court with a five-day fresh remand prayer for the first seven accused and seven days' remand prayer for the last one.

In the remand prayer, the IO said the first seven accused were earlier placed on a five-day remand each and they gave important information about issuing fake Covid-19 certificates. But they need to be remanded to gather more information in this regard, the IO added.

Defence, however, submitted separate petitions seeking bail along with cancellation of the remand prayer.

Upon hearing both sides, the magistrate turned down their bail petitions and issued the remand order.

Besides, the court rejected the five-day remand prayer sought for seventeen-year-old Kamrul Islam, a receptionist of the group and sent him to Tongi Children Correctional Centre.

Earlier on July 7, 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.

On the same day, Rab also arrested eight accused during a drive at Regent Hospital's Uttara Branch.