Testimony against Regent’s chairman Shahed, ex-health DG Azad and 4 others deferred to 4 Oct

A Dhaka court has deferred the recording of testimony against six people, including former director general of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) Prof Dr Mohammad Abul Kalam Azad and Regent Group’s Chairman Mohammad Shahed, in a corruption case filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC).

Judge Mohammad Zakaria Hossain of Dhaka Special Judge Court-6 fixed the new date after a hearing today (2 September).

As no witnesses appeared before the court today, ACC prosecutor Mohammad Nure Alam sought additional time through a petition, prompting the court to defer the proceedings.

Shahed was brought to the court from jail, while the other accused, who are currently out on bail, were also present.

The other accused are former DGHS director (hospitals and clinics) Dr Aminul Hasan, deputy director (hospital-1) Dr Younus Ali, assistant director (hospital-1) Dr Shafiur Rahman and research officer Dr Didarul Islam.

ACC Deputy Director and Investigating Officer Farid Ahmed Patwary filed the case at the ACC’s Dhaka Integrated District Office-1 on 23 September 2020 and later submitted the charge sheet against the accused on 30 September 2021.

The court formally framed charges against the accused on 12 June 2022, marking the beginning of the trial.

The accused allegedly abused their positions to turn Regent Hospital, despite its expired licence, into a dedicated Covid-19 hospital.

However, patients were allegedly charged Tk3,500 per sample for testing, collecting Tk1.378 crore in total.