ACC quizzes JMI Hospital chairman over mask, PPE scams
A team, led by Mir Mohammad Zainul Abedin Shebly, ACC director and head of the enquiry team, questioned Abdur Razzak
The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) on Wednesday quizzed Md Abdur Razzak, chairman of JMI Hospital Requisite Manufacturing Ltd, over allegations of corruption in purchasing masks, personal protective equipment (PPE) and other materials.
The commission also questioned Md Matiur Rahman, coordinator (medical team) of Toma Construction Ltd the same day.
A team, led by Mir Mohammad Zainul Abedin Shebly, ACC director and head of the enquiry team, quizzed the duo from 10am to 3pm at the commission's Segunbagicha office in Dhaka.
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Confirming the matter, ACC Secretary Dilwar Bakhth said, "To track down people involved in the scam, the ACC has quizzed them. The anti-graft body will get to the root of the matter to find out if any government employee is involved in the scam."
Earlier on July 1, the anti-graft commission summoned five medical equipment suppliers for interrogation as part of its enquiry into the corruption allegations over the purchases of N95 masks and PPE.
One of the suppliers, Aminul Islam Amin, chairman and managing director of Elan Corporation, was not present at the ACC office on Wednesday though he was summoned for quizzing.
Two more suppliers – Md Humayun Kabir, director of Mediteck Imaging Ltd, and Motazzerul Islam Mithu, chairman of the Dhaka International Medical College Hospital – are scheduled to appear before the enquiry team today.
Motazzerul is also the owner of Lexican Merchandise and Technocrat Ltd.
On June 18, the ACC formed a four-member team to probe allegations of corruption in the purchases of N95 masks and PPE.
The probe panel is headed by ACC Director Mir Zainul Abedin Shebly, while Deputy Director Nurul Huda, and assistant directors Saiduzzaman and Ataur Rahman are members on the committee.
Responding to a query, ACC Secretary Dilwar Bakhth said illegal activities and corruption in the Regent Hospital would also be taken into account.
On Monday, a team of Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) detained eight individuals from Regent Hospital's Uttara branch in Dhaka over providing fake coronavirus test reports.
The facility was one of the private hospitals that got permission for Covid-19 treatment at the early stage of infection in March.
