The former Director General of Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), Dr Abul Kalam Azad, and four other officials of the department were quizzed separately at the headquarters of Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) in the city over N95 mask, JKG Health Care and Regent Hospital scams on Wednesday.
Prof. Dr. Abul Kalam Azad and four other officials appeared before the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) office on Wednesday as the anti-graft body sent separate letters to the former DG and other DGHS officials summoning them for questioning on August 6.
Apart from Dr Azad, four other officials are DGHS Director (Hospitals & Clinics) Aminul Hasan, Deputy Directors Yunus Ali, Md. Shafiur Rahman and Research Officer Didarul Islam.
“The ACC is investigating various allegations regarding the procurement of Central Medical Stores Depot (CMSD). As a former DG of DGHS, the ACC’s Investigation Officer (IO) requested me to come and cooperate. So, I have come here.”
Dr Azad told reporters at the ACC office after five hours of interrogation.
ACC director Mir Mohammad, a team led by Zainul Abedin Shibli interrogated him. Other members of the team are ACC Deputy Director Nurul Huda, Assistant Director Saiduzzaman and Ataur Rahman.
Abul Kalam Azad said, the Anti-Corruption Commission is investigating allegations of purchasing various health equipment during his tenure.
"As you all know, I have been the Director General of the Department of Health since 2016.I set an example by voluntarily resigning as the DG of DGHS on July 21.I want to make it clear that anyone who commits a crime should be punished. I will cooperate in the investigation of this matter," he said.
ACC director Sheikh Mohammad Fanafilla summoned Abul Kalam Azad in a notice.
According to the notice, “Shahed, chairman of Regent Hospital Ltd, along with others conned a large number of people by collecting crores of money by issuing fake Covid-19 certificates.”
It is necessary to take his (Abul Kalam Azad's) statement in the interest of proper investigation of the allegation of acquiring illegal assets of Shahed, ACC director Sheikh Mohammad Fanafilla said.