Play store
The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has filed six cases against former health minister Zahid Maleque and 12 others over alleged irregularities, fraud and misappropriation of government funds in a COVID-19 response project.
ACC Secretary Md Saidur Rahman Khan disclosed the information at a media briefing at the commission’s headquarters on Monday.
According to the ACC, its investigation found alleged irregularities in six procurement packages under the COVID-19 Emergency Response and Pandemic Preparedness (ERPP) Project, involving the alleged misappropriation of Tk 12.03 crore.
The procurements included KN95 and N95 masks, gloves, hospital beds, medical and surgical equipment, television commercials, and mobile and web applications.
The ACC alleged that the accused, acting in collusion and abusing their positions, misappropriated government funds through irregularities and deception in the procurements.
The alleged amounts involved in the six cases range from Tk 62.73 lakh to Tk 3.48 crore.
Besides Zahid Maleque, the accused include former ERPP Project Director Prof Dr Md Iqbal Kabir, former DGHS Additional Director General Dr Saniya Tahmina Jhora and Prof Dr Nasima Sultana, along with other officials involved in the project.
Owners and officials of companies supplying goods and services under the packages have also been named in the cases.
The cases were filed based on investigation reports prepared by the ACC under sections 409, 420, 120(B) and 109 of the Penal Code and Section 5(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1947.