A Dhaka court today accepted charges against 11 people, including the deputy director of Department of Health, over irregularities in the procurement of drugs for Azimpur Maternal and Child Health Training Institute.

The accused seven doctors and three contractors are: proprietor of Monarch Establishment Fatenur Islam; owner of Nafisa Business Corner Sheikh Idris Uddin Chanchal; proprietor of Santana Traders Nizamur Rahman Chowdhury; former supervisor of Azimpur Maternal and Child Health Training Institute and president of Tender Evaluation Committee Dr Israt Jahan; former principal of Family Welfare Inspector Training Institute and member of evaluation committee Dr Parveen Haque Chowdhury; former junior consultant (Gynecology) of the training institute and member of evaluation committee Dr Mahfuza Khatun; former assistant coordinator (Training and Research) and member of evaluation committee Dr Chinmoy Kanti Das; former medical officer of Dhaka District Civil Surgeon's Office and member of evaluation committee (now Deputy Director of Department of Health) Dr Saiful Islam; medical officer (Children) of the institute and member of Market Price Verification Committee and member secretary of evaluation committee Dr Begum Mahfuza Dilara Akhter; medical officer of the institute and  president of Market Price Verification Committee Dr Nazrina Begum; and former administrative officer of the institute and member of Market Price Verification Committee Zahirul Islam (currently working as Assistant Upazila Family Planning Officer in Noakhali Sadar).

Judge KM Emrul Kayesh of the Dhaka Metropolitan Senior Special Judge's Court issued the order after scrutinising the case dockets and other relevant documents.

The judge fixed January 10, 2022 for hearing on charge framing against the case.

Anti-Corruption Commission Deputy Director Mohammad Abu Bakar Siddique, also the investigation officer of the case, submitted the charge sheet to the Dhaka Senior Special Judge's Court on September 21.

The ACC filed the case against them with Dhaka Coordinated Office -1 in 2019 for their involvement in procurement irregularities.

According to the case statement, the ACC investigated allegations of corruption in various purchases done by the institute in 2014-15 to 2016-17 financial year.

In the financial year 2014-15, as per the work order, a bill worth TK 32,91,720 was paid to the contractor for supplying medicines.

However, the maximum price of the same drug is TK 16,45,298, according to retail and the Department of Drug Administration prices. The rest has been paid extra.

Money has been embezzled using the same process in four financial years, according to the charges.