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SIRAJGANJ: Dr Md Anwar Hossain, assistant director of Sirajganj Medical College and Hospital (SMCH), has been made an officer on special duty (OSD) at the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) in Mohakhali over allegations of corruption and irregularities.
Dr Sajjad Kadir, upazila health and family planning officer of Dhunat in Bogura, has been appointed to replace him on an additional-charge basis.
The decision was announced in a notification issued on September 29 and signed by Saiful Islam, joint secretary of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
According to the notification, Dr Anwar has been attached to the DGHS office in Mohakhali. If he fails to join his new workplace within the stipulated time, he will be considered stand-released from October 5.
Several attempts were made to contact Dr Anwar by phone, but he did not respond. He also did not reply to text messages sent to him. Attempts to contact the hospital’s current director, Dr ATM Nuruzzaman, for comment were also unsuccessful.
According to sources and information published in the media at different times, Dr Anwar has faced allegations of irregularities and financial corruption in several areas of the hospital’s operations. The allegations include irregularities in supplying food and diets to patients, purchasing medical and surgical requisition (MSR) items, and recruiting workers through outsourcing.
It has also been alleged that during his tenure, an influential group involving several preferred contractors was formed around the hospital’s MSR procurement. There were also allegations of interference in various procurement processes and commission transactions. However, the allegations cannot be conclusively established without an impartial investigation.
Meanwhile, Dr Anwar’s close association with former acting hospital director Dr Krishna Kumar Pal has also come under discussion. According to those concerned, Dr Krishna Kumar faced an investigation and departmental action over alleged irregularities in the purchase of medical equipment and machinery worth around Tk 250 crore, as well as an allegation that Tk 16 crore was paid in advance to a contractor for the purchase of an MRI machine. However, whether Dr Anwar was involved in those incidents should be determined through a separate investigation.
Locals said the actual picture could emerge if the hospital’s procurement records, documents related to MSR purchases, supply bills, contractor activities and records of outsourced worker recruitment are reviewed.
Those concerned said an impartial investigation should be conducted into the allegations and, if any irregularities in the use of public funds are found, appropriate action should be taken against those responsible.