The Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) has issued a directive to all government hospitals and medical colleges not to award any work order to 16 particular contracting companies that are already on the Anti-Corruption Commission’s black list. The directive came after ACC Secretary Muhammad Dilwar Bakht recently sent a letter to the cabinet secretary requesting him not to issue work order to the black-listed companies, said sources.
In response, they said, Cabinet Division sent a letter to the Health and Family Welfare Ministry to take necessary steps in this regard. The health ministry, in consequence, sent separate letters to the departments under the ministry mentioning the names of the black-listed companies. After that, the health department has instructed all the hospitals and medical colleges of the country to abide by the ACC instruction.
The blacklisted companies of the ACC are Rahman Trade International, Silver Fashion, M/S Anik Traders, M/S Ahmed Enterprises, M/S Manila Enterprise, M/S SK Traders, MH Pharma, M/S Drugs and M/S Bengal Scientific and Surgical Co and some others. In its letter, ACC states its findings of corruption in procuring MSRs, heavy machinery and other materials of various medical colleges, hospitals, institutions directed under the Health Department.
Investigation shows that some unscrupulous employees of the Department of Health purchases MSR, heavy machinery and other medical equipment at high cost than the prevailing market value. In some cases the bill is paid without providing the goods. The letter added that the ACC has made a concrete investigation and made a list of the contractor companies involved to end such practice.
Two of the blacklisted companies of the ACC are Rahman Trade International and Silver Fashion. In a case related to the purchase of medical equipment, the two companies were charged for embezzling Tk 1 crore 5 lakh and acquiring illegal assets of Taka 1 crore 8 lakh. They have been accused of embezzling government funds of Tk 1.5 million from the Cox's Bazar Sadar Model Police Station.
There are allegations of embezzling more than TK 6 crore against International Mercantile Trade, Bengal Scientific and Surgical Universal Media Corporation. There are allegations against Anik traders and Ahmed Enterprise for embezzling TK 10 crore. Also there are allegations against the other companies of embezzling huge amount of government money.
In this regard, Md. Belal Hossain, Director of the Health Department, said that the health department had sent the names and addresses of the blacklisted entities to the directors and CEOs of each of the concerned organizations.