Kurigram General Hospital: A cesspool of tender corruption

Fresh new allegations have surfaced regarding the recruitment of staffers against the authorities of Kurigram General Hospital, who have only recently faced the heat from the media over allegations of tender fraud related to the supply of medicines, stationery and non-stationery, prompting the cancellation of the questionable tender. 

This time a shadow syndicate is allegedly plotting to complete a recruitment contract in secret by eliminating the nominated contractor’s involvements in order to swindle huge sums of money.

According to sources, Kurigram General Hospital issued a tender notice for the recruitment of 29 cleaners and security guards through a third party agency. 

The tender went to the Rangpur-based “Swaralipi Security Services Pvt Ltd”, which was tasked with providing 20 cleaners and 9 security guards for the hospital. 

Subsequently, potential candidates desiring to be recruited alleged that a shadow syndicate had been trying to extort lakhs of taka from them for the jobs.

Getting wind of such allegations, Rezaul Karim, proprietor of Swaralipi Security Services, demanded an official contract agreement letter from the hospital authorities.

On June 3, he received a contract agreement and a work order signed by hospital superintendent Md Jakirul Islam, which was sent 14 days after its completion.

Suspecting forgery, Rezaul Karim sent a written complaint to the hospital authorities saying that Md Jakirul Islam's signature, seal and official pad had been forged as Rezaul did not enter into any agreement with the hospital authorities on a non-judicial stamp of Tk300 and did not pay a security deposit of Tk47,000.

While there have been allegations that a syndicate led by Chief Assistant cum Accountant Ashraful Majid at Kurigram General Hospital was trying to carry out the recruitment process through bypassing the main contractor, the accused Ashraful Majid denied the allegations and termed the matter as a conspiracy against him.

When asked about the allegations, Kurigram General Hospital Superintendent Jakirul Islam failed to provide a credible response. He also expressed his inability to say anything about the issuance of work order and contract with the nominated contractor.

Meanwhile, Rezaul Karim said: “We have informed the authorities concerned in writing to take necessary steps as per rules. I hope the authorities will take immediate action.”