Sylhet Bureau

About Tk 18 crores of government allocation have been allegedly misappropriated in Sunamganj District Sadar Hospital in one year.

This corruption has been revealed in the audit report. The members of anti-discrimination student movement have given a memorandum to the health advisor of the interim government to take quick action in the case of such theft in the hospital. The students of the district became angry after the widespread corruption came to light.

An automation device was purchased in Sunamganj District Sadar Hospital in 2018. It is boxed. But showing the purchase of chemicals for this machine, a bill of Tk 4 crore 75 lakh 35 thousand was raised in the financial year 2022-23. Apart from this, about 23 lakhs for the purchase and repair of small parts of 19 computers of the hospital, 24 lakhs for events, festivals, meeting-seminars, 21 lakhs for entertainment, 14 lakhs for purchase of cloths, 11 lakhs for buying seals and stamp pads were collected. The members of the anti-discrimination student movement gave a memorandum to the health advisor of the interim government on Wednesday to take action against such irregularities and corruption.

They handed over this memorandum to Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Rashed Iqbal Chowdhury. In the memorandum, it is said that there have been irregularities and corruption of about 18 crore rupees in the district headquarters hospital only in the financial year 2022-23. The issue came up in the audit report of that financial year. With this irregularity-corruption hospital storekeeper Suleiman Ahmed, accountant. Chhmirul Islam and former supervisor. Anisur Rahman said that several officials and employees of the hospital were involved.

The memorandum mentions that in the financial year 2022-23, audit objections have been raised against the expenditure of 18 crores in 32 sectors, including hospital purchases. The supervisor at the hospital at this time was Md. Anisur Rahman. Currently he is Sylhet Divisional Director of Health Department. Although Suleiman and Chhamirul were transferred from here in July, Md. Anisur Rahman reinstated them here again in an order. However, their attendance and salary in the hospital is now stopped.

Quoting the audit report, the memorandum also stated that the lowest bidder was not given the job for procurement of medicines, machinery, chemicals and linen materials. In this, the government has incurred a financial loss of 2 crore 56 lakh 91 thousand 969 rupees in four purchases. The government has suffered a loss of Tk 45 lakh 60 thousand due to non-purchase of medicines from the Government’s Essential Drugs Company Limited (UCL). 2.2 million worth of surgical supplies were purchased despite not being required.

Despite having sufficient outsourcing manpower, 81 lakh 70 thousand rupees have been paid to irregular workers without the approval of the ministry. A loss of 1 crore 34 lakh 88 thousand taka has been caused to the government by showing excessive purchase of non-UCL drugs in violation of the Ministry’s directives. Inspite of not providing furniture and equipment, bill payment of Tk 15 lakh 29 thousand 750 to the contractor, payment of outstanding bill of Tk 97 lakh 71 thousand 127 without administrative approval and expenditure sanction of the Ministry, additional linen materials of Tk 43 lakh without demand have been purchased and kept in boxes.

Loss of 46 lakh 99 thousand 875 taka to the government due to failure to present any evidence for receipt of linen goods distributed to different wards from the main store. In reality, the contractor has been billed Tk 13 lakh without repairing waste storage and office equipment. About Tk 21 lakh received from cabin rent of patients admitted to hospital cabins has not been deposited in the government exchequer.

Instead of giving the work to the highest bidder, the officials colluded and gave the work to a contractor named Fortune Corporation of Dhaka at a high price. In this, the government has incurred a financial loss of 2 crore 56 lakh 91 thousand 969 rupees in four purchases. According to the report, 3 thousand 720 seals and stamps have been purchased during this period for the needs of doctors, nurses and officials of the hospital. 11 lakh 50 thousand taka has been spent on it. Bill vouchers were issued in the name of Shafiq Art, Shyamal Photostat and Pinak Art of Sunamganj city, but these institutions said that they did not supply these.

An organization of Sunamganj called M/s Samiha Enterprises has been given bills of around 67 lakh rupees at various times. Out of this, 22 lakh 91 thousand for purchase of manohari, office equipment and other materials, 15 lakh 29 thousand taka for not supplying office furniture and equipment, 13 lakh 79 thousand taka for non-repairing waste storage and office equipment of non-residential buildings, 15 lakh for not repairing furniture. A bill of lakhs of rupees has been paid.

Three companies named M/s Janani Cloth Store, M/s Roy Traders and M/s Anik Traders of the city have been billed about Tk 20 lakhs in the name of purchase of consumables at different times. Among them there is a sum of Tk 12 lakhs.

Storekeeper Suleiman Ahmed and Md. Chhamirul Islam has claimed that he is not involved in any irregularities. Suleiman Mia said, audit objections are in all offices. We will answer these after verifying the documents. There was no irregularity here.

Md. Anisur Rahman also said that he did not do any irregularity. He said, we will respond to every objection. The current supervisor of the hospital on Saturday.

Mahbubur Rahman said, I took charge on March 13 this year. After informing everyone in charge of the hospital that I will not tolerate any irregularities and corruption, on the contrary, I am also being harassed and threatened in various ways. I will inform the Health Advisor, higher authorities of the Health Department and send the report to take necessary legal action subject to the ACC investigation.