A Dhaka court today fixed April 26 for submission of a probe report against Sharmin Jahan, proprietor of Aparajita International in connection with a case filed over supplying fake N95 face masks to Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) Hospital.
Additional Metropolitan Magistrate of Dhaka Abu Bakar Siddique fixed the new date as the investigating officer (IO) was unable to submit the probe report on Tuesday (March 9).
On 23 July of last year, BSMMU Proctor Syed Mozaffor Ahmed filed the case with Shahbagh police station accusing Aparajita International of supplying fake N95 face masks to BSMMU.
Later on July 24, Sharmin Jahan, who was the former Assistant Registrar at the Registrar's Office of Dhaka University (DU), was arrested from the capital's Shahbagh area.
According to the case statement, the BSMMU issued a work order to Aparajita International on Jun 27, 2020, to supply 11,000 N95 masks.
The company supplied 1,300 N95 masks in the first lot on June 30, 460 in the second lot, 1,000 in the third lot on July 2 and 700 in the fourth lot on July 13 of last year to BSMMU.
The masks supplied in the first and second lots were flawless but the masks supplied in the third and fourth batches were found to be faulty when distributed and used.
The quality of the masks fell short of specifications. Besides, users found some masks with torn straps while misspelt English words were printed on some of the masks.
Aparajita International owner Sharmin Jahan was served with a notice by the BSMMU on July 18, 2020, seeking an explanation after the hospital authorities realized that the masks were faulty and may enhance the risks of Covid-19 transmission.
In reply, Sharmin Jahan ‘Apologised’ in a written statement on July 20, which is equivalent to a confessional statement, Proctor Mozaffor Ahmed said in the case statement.
The BSMMU has been treating coronavirus patients since July 4, 2020.
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