The New Nation - Internet Edition

UNB, Dhaka

Apart from investigating graft in purchasing equipment, the Anti-Corruption Commission is also looking into corruption and irregularities relating to appointment, promotion and redundancy in Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU).

Speaking at the regular briefing of the Commission, ACC Director General (Admin) Col Hanif Iqbal said a special investigation team is also looking into corruption in setting up a washing plant in the country's only medical university.

"This is a time-consuming matter. It will take time to complete the investigation," he added.

Hanif informed that the special ACC team has primarily found out irregularities in purchasing a machine for BSMMU's Urology department.

In January 2004, the Chairman of the Urology department applied to the Vice-Chancellor for replacing a Lithotripsy machine before December 2005.

Three firms had submitted tenders to supply the machine. But the work order was given to the bidder that quoted about Tk 5 crore instead of the lowest bidder which quoted Tk 3.2 crore.

The machine was procured in 2006 at the price of Tk about 5 crore. But the Apollo Hospitals purchased the same machine from the same supplier at the same time at a cost of Tk 3.21 crore, a difference of over Tk 1.78 crore.

According to the special team, relevant rules and regulations were not followed in purchasing the machine.

Responding to a question, Col Hanif Iqbal said that in five purchasing irregularities discovered so far by the special team, some names have come out who were allegedly involved in the deals.

He said it is not possible for him to specifically state as to who were involved with corruption unraveled so far.

Hanif said legal measures would be taken against those involved after receiving recommendations from the special team.

He informed that a special team formed to investigate corruption in the Land Ministry has also begun its activities.

The special team would investigate different types of corruption relating to allocation of khas land, land acquisition, buying, selling and use of cars, model villages and posting of assistant settlement officers.

The five-member special team, headed by ACC deputy director Ashraf Ali Faruk, will also investigate corruption and irregularities in the Directorate of Land Survey.