Staff Reporter :
The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has interrogated the former Director General (DG) of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), Professor Abul Kalam Azad, over various scams and irregularities in the health sector.
The five accused entered the ACC headquarters around 10:00am on Wednesday.
A team led by ACC Director Mir Md Zainul Abedin Shibly interrogated Prof Azad at ACC headquarters yesterday.
“I haven’t committed any crime. I am not corrupt.
I have always been honest and efficient. I want those who are corrupt to get punished. I will cooperate with the ACC in this regard,” Professor Azad told the media after his interrogation.
He added, “Since I have been accused of corruption during my tenure, I have voluntarily resigned and set an example.” The former health DG also claimed that a vested group has been spreading propaganda against him.
On August 6, the ACC sent separate letters to the former DG and other DGHS officials summoning them for questioning. Meanwhile, ACC Director Sheikh Md Fanafillah questioned four other DGHS officials — the former director (hospital and clinic) Dr Aminul Hasan, Deputy Directors Md Yunus Ali and Dr Md Shafiur Rahman and Research Officer Md Didarul Islam — in the Regent Hospital and JKG Healthcare scam case.
Sheikh Md Fanafillah will also be interrogating Professor Azad on Thursday regarding the Regent hospital and JKG Healthcare scam.
According to another ACC letter, Shahed, chairman of Regent Hospital Ltd of Uttara, Dhaka, and others had been conning the public by collecting crores of taka in the name of issuing Covid-19 certificates.
On July 8, the the ACC had also interrogated the heads of five health sector contractors on allegations of corruption in the purchase of masks, personal protective equipment (PPE) and other medical equipment.
The letter read that Professor Azad is accused of misappropriating huge amounts of money through the procurement of substandard masks, PPE and other necessary equipment for the doctors involved in Covid-19 treatment.
The ACC also said various irregularities, corruption, and abuse of power against officials and employees of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, DGHS and Central Medical Stores Depot (CMSD) were found.
On July 21, Professor Azad had to resign amid criticisms over DGHS for its poor handling of Covid-19 management.
Professor Azad, who was the first ever Grade 1 secretary in the country in this post, was criticized heavily in the wake of several Covid-19 related controversies surrounding the state-run organization and different private hospitals in Dhaka city.
The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has interrogated the former Director General (DG) of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), Professor Abul Kalam Azad, over various scams and irregularities in the health sector.
The five accused entered the ACC headquarters around 10:00am on Wednesday.
A team led by ACC Director Mir Md Zainul Abedin Shibly interrogated Prof Azad at ACC headquarters yesterday.
“I haven’t committed any crime. I am not corrupt.
I have always been honest and efficient. I want those who are corrupt to get punished. I will cooperate with the ACC in this regard,” Professor Azad told the media after his interrogation.
He added, “Since I have been accused of corruption during my tenure, I have voluntarily resigned and set an example.” The former health DG also claimed that a vested group has been spreading propaganda against him.
On August 6, the ACC sent separate letters to the former DG and other DGHS officials summoning them for questioning. Meanwhile, ACC Director Sheikh Md Fanafillah questioned four other DGHS officials — the former director (hospital and clinic) Dr Aminul Hasan, Deputy Directors Md Yunus Ali and Dr Md Shafiur Rahman and Research Officer Md Didarul Islam — in the Regent Hospital and JKG Healthcare scam case.
Sheikh Md Fanafillah will also be interrogating Professor Azad on Thursday regarding the Regent hospital and JKG Healthcare scam.
According to another ACC letter, Shahed, chairman of Regent Hospital Ltd of Uttara, Dhaka, and others had been conning the public by collecting crores of taka in the name of issuing Covid-19 certificates.
On July 8, the the ACC had also interrogated the heads of five health sector contractors on allegations of corruption in the purchase of masks, personal protective equipment (PPE) and other medical equipment.
The letter read that Professor Azad is accused of misappropriating huge amounts of money through the procurement of substandard masks, PPE and other necessary equipment for the doctors involved in Covid-19 treatment.
The ACC also said various irregularities, corruption, and abuse of power against officials and employees of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, DGHS and Central Medical Stores Depot (CMSD) were found.
On July 21, Professor Azad had to resign amid criticisms over DGHS for its poor handling of Covid-19 management.
Professor Azad, who was the first ever Grade 1 secretary in the country in this post, was criticized heavily in the wake of several Covid-19 related controversies surrounding the state-run organization and different private hospitals in Dhaka city.
