The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has decided to launch an investigation against the owner of Regent Hospital and Chairman of Regent Group Mohammad Shahed alias Shahed Karim.
ACC Public Relations Officer Pranab Kumar Bhattacharya confirmed the matter to Dhaka Tribune on Monday.
The commission has formed a three-member committee led by ACC Deputy Director Abu Bakar Siddique to carry out a detailed probe into the allegations against Shahed.
The other members of the team are, Neyamul Hasan Gazi, Sheikh Mohammad, and Golam Mawla.
Pranab said: “Shahed has been accused of many fraudulent activities through which he has embezzled crores of taka. There are also allegations of him being a loan defaulter. There are reports that he has even evaded income tax.
“In light of the current developments, we have decided to start a probe against him.”
Earlier on July 9, ACC Secretary Dilwar Bakht said that the commission will open an investigation on the recent allegations against Regent Hospital’s corruption and irregularities.
The anti-graft watchdog told the media that it will also interrogate officials of the Ministry of Health and Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) to ascertain if they are involved in the irregular activities of Regent Hospital during the investigation.
On July 6, the Uttara and Mirpur offices of the Regent Hospital were raided under Executive Magistrate Sarowar Alam of the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) mobile court.
The hospital was deceiving and extorting money from the general people by providing them with Covid-19 certificates without conducting any tests.
RAB's mobile court found evidence of at least 6,000 fake Covid-19 test certificates.
A day later, on July 7, RAB sealed off the head office of Regent Hospital with directives from DGHS.
Following this, a case was filed against 17 people, including Regent Group Chairman Shahed, with the Uttara West police station.
On the same day, DGHS ordered the closure of both the Mirpur and Uttara branches of the Regent Hospital.
Meanwhile, Shahed has been banned from leaving the country and is currently on the run.
Law enforcement agencies are on the hunt to arrest him.