There was no approval from the health directorate for the purchase and the tender process was flawed and lightning quick. The work order was issued only two days after the bidder was picked and the bill worth Tk 4.49 crore was collected in just 10 days.
They were that organised and that fast to misappropriate the money in the name of purchasing heavy medical equipment for Rangpur Medical College in June last year.
After a three-month investigation, the Anti-Corruption Commission yesterday filed a case against six people, including college Principal Dr Nur Islam and its Assistant Professor Dr Sarowat Hossain.
Of the rest four, three come from the same family -- Abdus Sattar Sarkar, proprietor of Mercantile Trade International, his son Jaher Uddin Sarkar, proprietor of Bengal Scientific and Surgical, and his grandson Ahsan Habib.
The other accused is Asadur Rahman, proprietor of Universal Trade Corporation, and also brother-in-law of Jaher, who eventually got the contract.
“Normally, it takes several months to complete a tender process. But in this case, they worked at the speed of lightning to embezzle the money,” said ACC Deputy Assistant Director Ferdous Rahman, also the investigating officer of the case.
Sarowat, who teaches at the community medicine department, has no knowledge about the equipment. Still, he was the member secretary of four committees -- market price, tender opening, tender evaluation and survey, the ACC investigation found.
According to the FIR, Nur Islam formed several committees unlawfully to purchase heavy equipment without the approval of the Directorate of Health.
He also invited tender without proper specifications.
The principal also issued an office order on June 21, 2018, saying Bengal Scientific and Surgical Co was selected for the job. The work order came just two days later. The bill was passed another five days later on June 28 and submitted to the office of the District Accounts Officer the same day.
“On June 30, they withdrew the money,” the case statement alleges.
During the spot visit, the investigating officer found an electrolyte analyser, a biological microscope LED, a shortwave machine for physiotherapy, an ultrasound machine for physiotherapy, a video endoscopy, a fully automated immunoassay analyser, a semi-automatic biochemistry analyser, three diathermy machines and 32 air conditioners.
“The Medical College does not need such heavy machines,” he said, quoting a report of the Directorate of Health.
Replying to a question, he said the price was shown much higher than the actual price.
Principal Nur Islam did not pick up the calls or respond to the text message requesting his comments.
