Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) is interrogating Dr Abul Kalam Azad, former director-general of Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), for the second consecutive day; this time over the Regent Hospital scam that issued fake coronavirus certificate without proper testing.
An ACC team led by Deputy Director Sheikh Md Fanafillah started grilling him at 10am on Thursday morning at the ACC headquarters.
ACC Director (public relations) Pranab Kumar Bhattachariya confirmed the matter to The Business Post.
Earlier on Wednesday (August 12), ACC interrogated him over allegations of embezzling a huge sum of money by procuring substandard masks, personal protective equipment (PPE) and other healthcare gadgets, although he outright rejected his involvement in any such corruption, saying, "I was not involved with any kind of irregularities and corruption in the office."
"I risked my life during the pandemic while discharging my duty. I joined at my work despite being coronavirus positive for the sake of the people," he added.
Azad further said, "I resigned from my post and set an example. ACC asked me to appear before it and I submitted my statement over their allegations."
The ACC earlier served a notice to Dr Azad and summoned him before it on August 6 over allegation of irregularities.
ACC also interrogated six officials of Central Medicine Stores Depot over corruption charges.
The anti-graft body summoned the chairman of Alan Corporation Aminul Islam Amin and Md Motazzerul Islam over the scam but they did not appear before the ACC.
The ACC started investigating corruption allegations in the health sector on June 10 amid the outcry of supplying low-grade healthcare gadgets to the frontline fighters such as doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals who are working to counter Covid-19.
Allegations exist that the officials of CMSD and DGHS were involved in corruption in procuring masks, PPE and other healthcare equipment.
ACC kicked off investigations in the health sector on June 10 after allegations surfaced of Central Medical Stores Depot (CMSD) and DGHS officials being involved corruption in procuring mask, PPE and other healthcare accessories.
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