Court Correspondent :
A Dhaka court yesterday (Tuesday) framed charges against seven persons, including a former director and three other physicians of Dhaka Medical College and Hospital (DMCH) in a graft case filed for malpractice in the purchase of medical equipment. Judge Md Jahurul Haque of Senior Special Judge’s Court of Dhaka also rejected the bail pleas of the accused. The accused persons are former DMCH Director Brigadier General (retired) Bazle Quader, DMCH Deputy Director Dr Md Faizullah, Dr Atiur Rahman and Dr Md Moshiur Rahman. Other three accused are Habibur Rahman, proprietor of medical equipment business firm HN Surgical Mart, former DMCH Accountants Nazrul Islam (i) and Nazrul Islam (ii).
On August 27, physicians Atiur Rahman and Moshiur Rahman tactfully fled the court after their bails were cancelled. However, on September 7, Atiur surrendered to the court and the court sent him to the jail. Six accused present in the courtroom pleaded not guilty.
The Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) charged them with fraud in the purchase of equipment worth Tk 23.1 million in November 2011. ACC Assistant Director Syed Tahsinul Haque filed the case with Shahbagh Police Station against the accused on November 16, 2011. Another ACC Assistant Director Fazlul Haque submitted the charge sheet.
The lawyers on behalf of the two accountants pleaded the court to drop charges against them, as there was no substantial evidence of their involvement in the incident. But the court rejected their pleas.
