Sylhet Bureau :
About Tk. 18 crore of government allocation has been lost in Sunamganj District Sadar Hospital in one year. This corruption has been revealed in an 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 Tk. 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 andcorruption 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 Tk. 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 Tk. 1 crore 34 lakh 88 thousand 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.
