There have occurred major irregularities in buying medicines, blankets, dental chairs to be distributed free of cost among patients under a project of the Ministry of Health. It’s believed that the items were purchased at much higher costs than prevailing market rates.
Government audit has noted the irregularities. In a four part series report, this is the first by Bangla Tribune reporter, Shahed Shafiq.
It’s believed that blankets worth Tk 2,200 were purchased for Tk 6,500. this has been established after evaluating cash vouchers, and other documents of the Dhaka Dental College.
The Audit report says that on Feb 28, 2013, dental college authority paid over Tk 1.91 million to Messrs. Sourav Enterprise for buying 294 blankets though the surgical requisition rate is Tk 2,200. Therefore, an additional Tk 1.24 million was paid for the blankets.
During the transaction, the principal of the Dental College was Dr SM Iqbal Hossain.
The government audit department could not find any tender documents or annual procurement plan to justify the high rate purchase.
A letter mentioning financial loss was sent to the secretary of the ministry of health and family planning on Dec 31, 2013 and another letter was sent on Mar 9, 2009.
The Dental College was also given a letter OF explanation on Feb 22, 2015 but the audit department did not get any response.
Principal of the Dhaka Dental College Dr Humayun Kabir said: “I am not aware of the matter and if such an irregularity happened then it was before my tenure.”
“I will look into it and take steps,” he said.
Dr SM Iqbal Hossain, the principal under whose tenure the irregularity took place, refused to comment on the matter and the health secretary, Md Asadul Islam, did not respond to either phone calls or SMS messages.