ACC submits charge-sheet against 9 in RMCH graft

The Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) has submitted a charge-sheet against nine people, including former director of Rajshahi Medical College Hospital (RMCH), on charge of misappropriating public money amounting to Tk 3.25 crore. Deputy director of ACC district office Nazrul Islam said assistant deputy director Abu Bakar Siddique submitted the charge-sheet with Metropolitan Magistrate Court in Rajshahi. The charge-sheeted accused are former director of RMCH Brig Gen (retd) M Abdul Latif (president of tender evaluation committee); former deputy director Dr SM Abul Kalam Azad; proprietor of Fahima Medical Hall, Rajshahi, M Matiur Rahman; regional sales manager of Square Pharmaceuticals Limited, Anisur Rahman, regional sales manager of Acme Pharmaceuticals Limited, MA Mannan; deputy manager (depot operations) of Renata Limited, senior regional manager of Jayson Pharmaceuticals Limited M Sahidullah, former regional manager of ACI Limited Sheikh Mohammad Ali and former director of Acme Laboratories Limited (sales and marketing) M Rafiqul Islam. The ACC approved the charge-sheet against them on January 19. According to the ACC investigation, the RMCH invited tender to procure mitral steno-regurgitation (MSR)/equipment during 2009-10 fiscal. The tender evaluation committee of the medical college selected only six tenders among 20 tenders dropped. All the accused in collusion with each other awarded work to the Fahima Medical Hall, Rajshahi, through tender manipulation although the Fahima Medical Hall quoted the highest price of MSR items in tender. However, the five pharmaceutical companies selected as responsive withdrew their tenders from bidding. Although the five pharmaceutical companies withdrew their tenders, the tender evaluation committee did not call fresh tender. The committee gave work to the local medicine company violating rules, according to UNB.