Fake Covid-19 Certificates: 8 Regent Group staff on fresh remand

A Dhaka court yesterday placed eight officials and employees of Regent Group on a two-day fresh remand each in a case filed over issuing fake Covid-19 certificates and illegally charging patients for testing and treatment.

The accused are: project officer Rakibul Islam Sumon (39), human resources officer Amit Banik (39), health technologists Ahsan Habib Hasan (49) and Hatim Ali (25), administrative officer Ahsan Habib (45), employee Abdur Rashid Khan Jewel (28), and driver Abdus Salam (25) and Regent Hospital Uttara Branch MD Mizanur Rahman (55).

Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Morshed Al Mamun Bhuiyan passed the order after Rab's senior ASP Md Nazmul Haque and also the case's investigation officer, produced them before his court with a five-day fresh remand for the first seven accused and seven days for the last one.

The defence, however, submitted separate petitions seeking bail along with cancellation of the remand prayer. Hearing both sides, the magistrate turned their bail petitions down and issued the remand paper.

The court rejected the five-day remand prayer sought for seventeen-year-old Kamrul Islam, a receptionist of the group, and sent him to Tongi Correctional Centre. On July 7, Inspector Zulhas Mia of Rab-1 filed the case with Uttara West Police Station against Regent Group Chairman Md Shahed, its MD Masud Parvez and 15. The same day, Rab arrested the eight accused at Regent Hospital's Uttara branch.