The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) is likely to soon summon Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) Director General Dr Mohammad Abul Kalam Azad and several other officials for questioning on the Regent Hospital scam.
In a media briefing at the commission’s headquarters on Sunday, ACC Secretary Dilwar Bakht said some senior officials, including the director general (DG) of the DGHS, could be summoned in connection with various irregularities and corruption by Regent Hospital owner Shahed alias Shahed Karim.
“If someone needs to give their statement on the Regent Hospital scam then they will be summoned, regardless of their identity. Some documents have been found on the matter and more documents are being examined,” the ACC secretary said.
Earlier on July 10, ACC Chairman Iqbal Mahmood said that those involved with corruption in the health sector will face justice once they are identified.
The ACC chief also said: “We have checked the approval letter by several DGHS officials. They will have to face the anti-graft commission, if needed."
ACC Secretary Dilwar Bakht said the commission is now investigating allegations of misappropriating crores of money in the name of supplying medical and other equipment to various hospitals, against officials of the DGHS and Regent Hospital.
Some people have already been questioned as part of the investigation and action will be taken against them according their role in the scam, he added.
Raid at DGHS
The Dhaka Tribune has learnt that ACC found documents in primary investigation that suggest DGHS Additional Director General (Administration) Dr Nasima Sultana, Director (Hospitals & Clinics) Dr Md Aminul Hasan, Deputy Director (Hospital And Clinic) Dr Younus Ali, and Additional Director Shafiur Rahman and the DGHS chief are involved in irregularities.
A four-member investigation team led by ACC Deputy Director Abu Bakkar Siddique conducted a drive at the DGHS headquarters in Mohakhali on Sunday.
During the one-hour raid, the ACC officials spoke to the DGHS chief and other officials, while also collecting several documents.
The DGHS chief in a press release denied any involvement in irregularities and said they followed directions from the Health Ministry.
Earlier on July 15, the ACC raided the DGHS office and seized documents related to the Regent Hospital's Memorandum of Undertaking (MoU) for checking the hospital license. The commission has found inconsistencies in the MoU.