The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has raided Ghatail Upazila Health Complex in Tangail over the dumping of expired government medicines into the Jamuna River.
A team led by ACC Tangail Deputy Director Fakhrul Islam conducted the raid on Monday afternoon, examining documents related to the storage, stockpiling and distribution of medicines.
The team found preliminary evidence of serious irregularities, negligence and an alleged attempt to divert and cover up the incident, officials said. The ACC also found a large quantity of medicines stored in toilets and abandoned buildings on the hospital premises.
Fakhrul Islam said there were significant discrepancies between the number of medicine sacks shown in media reports and those reportedly seized by police. “We found preliminary evidence of gross negligence, a superficial investigation, destruction of case evidence and attempts to divert and collectively cover up the incident,” he said. Several parties appeared to be involved in the incident, he added.
“Even after such a serious incident, the hospital authorities have kept a large quantity of medicines in toilets and abandoned buildings. They could not tell us how many were expired, how many were still valid or what types of medicines were stored there,” Fakhrul said. He described the situation as evidence of extreme negligence and dereliction of duty.
On August 26, local residents intercepted a pickup loaded with government medicines while they were allegedly being taken to the Jamuna River in Bhuapur for dumping late at night. Police later seized the vehicle and medicines and detained the driver.
The following night, Ghatail Upazila Health and Family Planning Officer Dr Abu Naim Mohammad Sohel filed a case over the incident. Meanwhile, Dr Sohel has been made an officer on special duty (OSD) in connection with the incident.
