ACC probe reveals graft in BSMMU

The corruption watchdog yesterday said it has detected anomalies in several institutions including the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) where equipment purchase irregularities caused the state to lose over Tk 2.37 crore.
The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) in a routine press briefing at its headquarters revealed three primary reports on institutional corruption at BSMMU, post and telecommunications ministry and Revenue Section of former Bangladesh Telegraph and Telephone Board (BTTB).
Investigations at four revenue offices of former BTTB revealed that its officials misappropriated funds and caused a loss of over Tk 14.78 crore to the state exchequer during the fiscal years of 2000-2001 through 2007-2008 by turning in false conveyance bills and false bills to pay labourers.
The post and telecommunications ministry caused a loss of over Tk 7.71 crore to the state by misusing 15 vehicles of former BTTB illegally throughout 2000-2001 and 2007-2008 fiscal years, found the ACC in its investigations.
The ACC said it is also investigating corruption links of the wives and sons of a number of corruption suspects.
Explaining the ACC move, Col Hanif Iqbal, director general (admin) of the ACC, said, "There is no legal barrier in conducting investigation against wives and sons of corruption suspects if we have reasons to believe that they possess wealth that is amassed through illegal means."
Responding to a query regarding transfer of ACC cases to the Truth and Accountability Commission (Tac), he said, "We haven't referred any name to the Tac yet, but three people have applied so far to the commission [ACC] and their cases are under consideration."
The ACC yesterday also approved four charge sheets against seven people including former lawmaker AKM Rahmat Ullah and former prime minister Khaleda Zia's brother Shamim Iskander and their wives for concealing information from the commission and accumulating wealth beyond their known sources of income.
BSMMU
Before the ACC revealed its findings about irregularities in the purchase of equipment at BSMMU, The Daily Star on July 29 and 30 had published a series report on various irregularities at the BSMMU including anomalies in equipment purchase for the hospital and the recruitment of teachers for the university.
According to ACC investigation report, the BSMMU authorities did not follow public procurement rules or proper tender procedures and spent an unusual amount of money to purchase a Cathlab (for conducting angiogram), ICU Ventilators and a Cardiovascular System on different occasions in 2005 and 2006.
The BSMMU authorities purchased Axiom Artis Dfc model equipment for the Cathlab in March 2006 with a three-year warranty at Tk 7,52,80,000 while Ziaur Rahman Heart Foundation (ZRHF) purchased the same equipment of the same model from the same supplier at Tk 6,29,95,000 in November 2005, the report mentioned adding that according to the purchase contract of ZRHF, two doctors of the ZRHF would receive free training while the BSMMU did not put down any such condition in its purchase contract.
Furthermore, the BSMMU purchased six ICU ventilators in three phases since March 13, 2004 till February 7, 2005 although the total number of the equipment to be purchased was not mentioned in the price quotation.
As per the market price back then, an additional Tk 12 lakh was spent on each ICU ventilator, causing a total loss of Tk 72 lakh.
The BSMMU also bought two cardiovascular systems in June 2005 for Tk 1,43,30,000 while directorate general of defence purchased the same model of the same system in the same year for Tk 50,29,500 each. The BSMMU showed an additional expenditure of Tk 42,71,000 in purchasing the equipment, said the report.
POST AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS MINISTRY
The ACC investigation revealed that the ministry used 15 vehicles belonging to former BTTB during 2000-2001 and 2007-2008 fiscal years for its own purposes. However, expenses for fuel, maintenance and even salaries of the drivers were paid for by the then BTTB.
Out of the 15 vehicles, ten were fixed for BTTB head office while five vehicles were taken from different projects of BTTB, the report said.
Though the ministry officials used the vehicles, the BTTB bore all the expenses on the vehicles.
The total fuel expenses for the ministry during the period were Tk 2,37,36,772 while vehicle maintenance, servicing and vulcanising cost was Tk 5,34,30,826.
REVENUE SECTION OF BTTB
Officials at four revenue section offices in the capital misappropriated Tk 6,72,64,627 between fiscal years of 2000-2001 and 2007-2008 by showing fake conveyance bills, said the ACC.
The revenue officials also misappropriated Tk 8,06,15,484 by submitting false bills to pay day labourers.
CHARGE SHEETS
AKM Rahmat Ullah and his wife Halima Rahmat Ullah will be charged for concealing information about their wealth worth over Tk 4.65 crore and amassing wealth worth over Tk 5.17 crore beyond their known sources of income.
In another charge sheet, Shamim Iskander, former flight engineer of Bangladesh Biman, and his wife Kaniz Fatema will be charged for concealing information and amassing wealth worth over Tk 1.33 crore beyond their known sources of income.
The other two charge sheets will be submitted against Chittagong (South) Awami League President Akteruzzaman Chowdhury Babu and former member of National Board of Revenue Jahurul Haque and his wife Afia Haque on similar charges.