ACC summons ex-DGHS boss over corruption allegations
The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has summoned former director general of the DGHS Prof Dr Abul Kalam Azad for quizzing over allegations of corruption.
The anti-graft body has also asked former director of the Directorate Dr Md Aminul Hasan, deputy director Md Yunus Ali, Dr Shafiur Rahman, and research officer Dr Md Didarul Islam for quizzing over the Regent Hospital scam.
They have been asked to appear on August 12.
Azad, on the other hand, has been asked to appear on August 12 and 13 in two separate letters, confirmed ACC's Public Relations Officer Pranab Kumar Bhattacharya.
One letter, signed by ACC's Director Mir Md Zainul Abedin Shebly, reads that there are allegations against Azad of misappropriating huge amounts of money through the procurement of substandard masks, personal protective equipment (PPE) and other necessary equipment for the doctors involved in Covid-19 treatment.
Another letter, signed by ACC's Director Sheikh Md Fanafillah, reads that the chairman of Regent Hospital Md Shahed has amassed illegal wealth by issuing fake certificates. "For the sake of proper investigation, it is necessary to record your [Azad's] statement," it added.
Amid severe criticism and scams related to Covid-19 testing, Azad stepped down as the director general of the DGHS on July 21.
In his resignation letter, he cited heath grounds as he has been suffering from chronic kidney disease for long.
Prof Azad had been the chief of the DGHS 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.
A day after the resignation of Prof Azad from DGHS, the ACC sued Shahed for misappropriating about Tk 1.51 crore of NRB Bank.
On July 27, another case was filed against Shahed for embezzling about Tk 2.71 crore of now defunct Farmers' Bank.
Earlier, the ACC formed a probe committee to investigate the alleged anomalies in Covid-19 PPEs, masks and safety gears' procurement.
The ACC also quizzed some suppliers in this regard.
After forming the committee, ACC Chairman Iqbal Mahmood said that the commission will unearth the truth and bring to book those responsible.
Anyone found involved in the irregularities will be held accountable, he added.
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