Regent Hospital scam: ACC summons ex DGHS chief, 4 officials

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has summoned Abul Kalam Azad, former director general of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), to question him over allegations of his involvement in corruption.

In two separate letters signed by Kazi Shafiqul Alam and Sheikh Md Fanafillah, directors of the anti-graft watchdog, Azad was asked to appear at the commission's Segunbagicha headquarters on August 12 and 13 for questioning, said Pranab Kumar Bhattacharya, public relations officer of ACC.

"For the sake of proper investigation, it is necessary to record his [Azad] statement," the letter added.

The ACC has also asked former director of the DGHS Md Aminul Hasan, its deputy directors Md Yunus Ali and Shafiur Rahman and research officer Md Didarul Islam, to come to the ACC headquarters on the same date for answering questions over their alleged involvement in the Regent Hospital scam.

One letter signed by ACC's Director Mir Md Zainul Abedin Shebly says that there are allegations against Azad of misappropriating huge amount of money through procurement of substandard masks, PPE and other equipment for doctors involved in Covid-19 treatment.

Another letter, signed by Sheikh Md Fanafillah, also a director of the anti-graft body, reads that the chairman of Regent Hospital Md Shahed has amassed a huge amount of wealth by issuing fake Covid-19 certificates.