Corruption in Mask, PPE Procurement: Motazzerul Mithu skips ACC quizzing on health grounds

Dhaka Central International Medical College and Hospital Chairman Motazzerul Islam Mithu, who allegedly committed corruption in mask and PPE procurement, yesterday skipped interrogation by Anti-Corruption Commission on health ground.

Moreover, Motazzerul, also owner of Lexicon Merchandize and Technocrat, sent a letter through his lawyer to the anti-graft watchdog where he claimed himself innocent, said ACC Public Relations Officer Pranab Kumar Bhattacharya.

The commission, however, did not accept his claim, confirmed the PRO.

Meanwhile, ACC Director Mir Md Zainul Abedin Shebly quizzed Meditech Imaging Director Humayun Kabir over the allegations of supplying poor quality masks, PPE and other medical equipment, needed to fight against deadly coronavirus, said Pranab.

On Wednesday, ACC quizzed JMI Hospital Requisite Manufacturing Ltd Chairman Abdur Razzak and coordinator (medical team) of Toma Construction Ltd Motiur Rahman over the same allegations.

On July 1, ACC summoned Razzak, Motiur, Motazzerul, Humayun and chairman of Elan Corporation Aminul Islam Amin for interrogation.

Aminul, already accused in a case filed by Directorate General of Drug Administration (DGDA) for importing "substandard" KN-95 masks, did not appear before ACC on the ground of ailment.

Earlier, ACC sources said they were cross-checking the alleged persons' statements and documents.

The controversy over the mask supply came to the fore in early April when health professionals in various hospitals were questioning the quality of respirators, with many resorting to social media to vent their frustration.

With the complaints over poor quality ventilators surfacing, the Central Medical Store Depot (CMSD), the government body that sources medical supplies, withdrew the masks received from JMI.

It also served a show-cause notice on the company.

In an official statement, JMI then said it was a packaging mistake.

Later, a government probe body found that JMI supplied "research-stage N95 masks" manufactured with "unapproved imported raw materials" against the demand for regular ones.

But it did not say what steps should be taken against the supplier.

On June 18, the ACC formed a committee to probe into the allegations of corruption in the procurement of N-95 masks, PPEs and other safety gears.

After forming the probe committee ACC Chairman Iqbal Mahmood said anyone found involved in the corruption would be brought to book.