Ex-DMCH director Bazle Quader's trial begins

A Dhaka court has framed charges against a former director and three other doctors of the Dhaka Medical College Hospital in a corruption case involving the purchase of medical equipment.

Dhaka’s Senior Special Judge's Court on Tuesday ordered the commencement of trial of Brig Gen (retd) Bazle Quader, former DMCH deputy director Md Faizullah, doctors Atiur Rahman and Md Moshiur Rahman and three others.

On Aug 27, Atiur and Moshiur had fled from the court after their bails were cancelled. Later, on Sept 7, Atiur surrendered in court and was sent to jail.

The other three accused are the owner of medical equipment dealer HN Surgical Mart, Habibur Rahman, and former DMCH accountants Nazrul Islam and Nazrul Islam.

All the six accused present in court pleaded not guilty. The court rejected their bail pleas.

The Anti-Corruption Commission charged them with fraud in the purchase of Tk 23.1 million worth of equipment in November 2011.

The lawyers for the accountants pleaded the court to drop the charges against them, saying there was no substantial evidence of their complicity in the crime. The court rejected their pleas.