4 held for storing Covid-19 test kits

Police arrested four people from Bangla Motor area in the capital on Thursday night on charges of storing coronavirus testing kits and other equipment used in combating the virus and selling those at hiked prices.

The arrestees are Anwar Hossain, Amit Basak, Shoayeb, and Shuvo.

SM Shamim, senior assistant commissioner of Ramna (zone) police, said they were discharging their duties at Moghbazar when a man approached and complained to them that some traders took Tk 30,000 for 20 masks when the actual price is Tk 3,600.

Shamim said they later conducted a raid at a private institution at Jahura Tower around 9pm on the day and arrested the four along with 275 Covid-19 testing kits, 9,050 normal and 100 N95 masks, 198 personal protective equipment and some other items.

The testing kits should not be in the possession of any individual or private organisation, Shamim said.

In primary interrogation, the arrestees admitted that they stored the items to sell later at hiked prices. A case was filed with Shahbagh Police Station under the Special Powers Act in this regard.