The Anti-Corruption Commission is interrogating former Director-General of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) Dr Abul Kalam Azad over the allegations of irregularities in purchasing masks, personal protective equipment (PPE) and other healthcare gadgets to counter Covid-19 pandemic.
A team of ACC led by its director Mir Joinul Abedin Shibly started questioning him from 10am at the ACC head office.
ACC public relations officer (PRO) Pranab Kumar Bhattacharya confirmed the development to The Business Post.
"ACC started grilling the former DG of DGHS as there are allegations that massive corruption had been taken place in the purchase of mask, PPE and other healthcare gadgets".
Dr Azad was served a notice by the ACC on August 6 to appear at its head office and submit his statement in this regard as ACC believes that huge amount of money was embezzled by the officials of DGHS by purchasing substandard coronavirus protective gears.
The ACC also interrogated six officials of Central Medicine Stores Depot (CMSD) as part of unearthing corruption allegations in the purchase of healthcare equipment.
In addition, the ACC summoned chairman of Allan corporation Aminul Islam Amin and owner of Lexicon Merchandise and Technocrat Limited Motazzerul Islam Mithu for their alleged involvement in the scam but they didn't appear before the ACC citing health issues.
The national anti-graft watchdog started investigating corruption allegations in the health sector on June 10 amid an outcry of supplying low-grade healthcare gadgets to the frontline fighters such as doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals who are working against Covid-19.
Allegations exist that the officials of CMSD and DGHS were involved in corruption in procuring masks, PPE and other healthcare equipment.
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