A Supreme Court lawyer today served a legal notice on the government asking it to arrest former director general of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) Prof Abul Kalam Azad within 24 hours on charges of committing corruption and irregularities in the health sector.

Advocate Zulfiqure Ali Jhunu sent the legal notice to the home secretary and inspector general of police through emails and courier service, requesting them also to issue a travel ban on Azad so that he cannot leave the country.

Citing the legal notice, Zulfiqure Ali Jhunu told The Daily Star that Dr Abul Kalam Azad is responsible and accountable for the reported corruption and irregularities in the health sector.

The health ministry and DGHS signed a contract with Regent Hospital a few months back for Covid-19 tests, although Regent Hospital's license reportedly had expired in 2014, the lawyer said, adding that Abul Kalam Azad was directly involved with the signing of the contract.

Zulfiqure Ali Jhunu also said he will move a writ petition before the High Court seeking necessary directives on the authorities concerned of the government for arresting Abul Kalam Azad if they do not take action in response to the legal notice.