Healthcare in corruption trap

Patients continue to bear the consequences of mismanagement, alleged corruption and weak governance in Bangladesh’s health sector, where influential syndicates are accused of controlling procurement, transfers, postings and promotions, while public money is allegedly channelled through questionable contracts and inflated purchases.

Despite a change of government, allegations suggest that networks established under the previous Awami League administration remain active under the BNP government, operating through influential officials and contractors.

The alleged practices have raised fresh concerns about accountability, the quality of public healthcare and the government’s ability to ensure that essential medicines, equipment and services reach patients. Dr M A Muhit, State Minister for Health and Family Welfare, has pledged action against corruption, saying Prime Minister Tarique Rahman follows a policy of “zero tolerance” towards graft.

According to some allegations, Joint Secretary Md Mustafizur Rahman, the Health Minister’s assistant private secretary Mostafizur Rahman, Central Medical Stores Depot (CMSD) Director Mohammad Shafiur Rahman and the minister’s private secretary A B M Iftekharul Islam Khandaker are among those exercising influence over key administrative and procurement decisions.

The allegations also raise questions about possible nepotism and the appointment of officials to influential positions.

The report further alleges that contractors and employees previously accused of irregularities remain active in the sector.

It cites the cases of Munshi Sajjad Hossain, alias Sajjad Munshi, linked to the curtain scandal at Faridpur Medical College Hospital, and several contractors who continue to pursue government procurement work.

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) issued notices to 23 employees in 2019 and 12 in 2020 over alleged illegal wealth and money laundering abroad. The material alleges that investigations were subsequently buried in exchange for money.

With development-sector operational plans cancelled, contractors are reportedly shifting their attention to medicine, surgical and reagent (MSR) supplies and other essential hospital purchases.

Allegations include collusion with hospital officials to obtain electronic tender passwords in advance, enabling favoured bidders to win contracts despite competing offers.

Bribes allegedly ranging from Tk 5 lakh to Tk 10 lakh, and Tk 20 lakh or more for important posts, have also been cited.

A controversy over postings at Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College Hospital and in Barishal health administration reportedly prompted the cancellation of appointments.

Questions over procurement have also emerged at the Ministry of Social Welfare, where the Navy-run Dockyard and Engineering Works Limited (DEW) received two contracts worth Tk 342.7 crore without competitive tendering.

These included a Tk 320.71 crore contract in August for Android tablets and a Tk 21.99 crore contract in June for wheelchairs and sewing machines.

A business agreement signed on 24 August, a day after the tablet contract, reportedly stipulated that DEW would retain 4 per cent, or around Tk 12.83 crore, as commission for its ability to secure contracts through direct procurement.

Salextra Limited was allocated Tk 179.25 crore for importing tablet components, while about Tk 64.49 crore was to be deposited into two bank accounts of Buraq Brake Limited.

Buraq Brake, registered in 2021, reportedly had no previous experience supplying tablets or electronic equipment.

Its founding directors are Sardar Rafin S A Hossain and his sister Anika Raidha, children of Sardar Tofazzel Hossain Liakat, the health minister’s younger brother and a BNP vice-president of Narsingdi district.

No record of the Prime Minister’s prior approval, required under an Armed Forces Division directive dated 24 March 2026 for involving military establishments in government projects, was reportedly found in the procurement files reviewed.

Each Xtra XT1 tablet was priced at Tk 48,000, although comparable tablets with keyboards and styluses were estimated to cost Tk 26,500-34,000.

The potential saving was calculated at Tk 93.54 crore. Adult and children’s wheelchairs and Singer sewing machines were also allegedly purchased at inflated prices, with discrepancies in the stated sewing-machine capacity.

Quality checks by Swiss inspection company SGS found serious defects in 30 of 125 wheelchairs sampled from a consignment of 1,584 in Wuqing, near Tianjin. Its 23 September assessment classified the products as “Not Conform”.

Despite the purchases, no wheelchairs or sewing machines had been distributed to beneficiaries in 2026, according to the material. The performance guarantees were also provided by private firms rather than DEW.

Speaking to The New Nation on Monday evening, Muhit said: “I am myself aware of corruption, irregularities and syndicates in the health sector, and I have also learnt of them through various media.”

He urged the press to report objectively, adding that the Prime Minister would identify those responsible and take action.

“He will spare no corrupt person, however influential or whoever’s relative they may be,” he said.

Muhit acknowledged the difficulties inherited by the government and alleged that syndicates established during the previous administration’s 16 years were attempting to obstruct its work.

He said corrupt bureaucrats and collaborators of the previous government had been identified and warned that no one would be spared if specific allegations were received.

The health minister and Joint Secretary Mustafizur Rahman did not respond to telephone calls or a subsequent WhatsApp message seeking their comments.