Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun, the Rapid Action Battalion director general, briefed the media in Dhaka on Wednesday afternoon about the arrest of the Regent Hospital chairman in Satkhira’s Debhata.
“Shahed has said many things, but we can’t tell you about them for the sake of investigation,” Abdullah said.
He said they expect to squeeze out more information from Shahed in interrogation.
Shahed introduced himself as retired or incumbent army officer, media personality, or top government official to carry out the fraud, Abdullah said.
Regent Hospital had signed a deal with the government for treatment of COVID-19 patients when the first coronavirus cases had been confirmed in Bangladesh.
He had recently appeared in TV talk-shows and identified himself as an influential person with links to high-ups in the government and the ruling party.
The Rapid Action Battalion raided the hospital on Jul 6 after receiving complaints that it was issuing fake coronavirus test reports.
It was revealed that the government signed the deal though the hospital had not renewed its licence for years.
Shahed went into hiding after his involvement in other incidents of fraud began coming out following the raid.
Shahed underwent ECG and chest x-ray while the doctors prescribed medication for Masud, said Inspector Bachchu Mia of the police camp at the hospital.
It was Masud who gave information leading to the arrest of Shahed in Satkhira, the native district of the Regent boss, Abdullah said.
The RAB chief said Shahed changed location frequently in Dhaka, Cox’s Bazar, Cumilla and Satkhira over the past week to evade arrest.
The RAB seized a loaded unlicenced firearm from Shahed during the arrest. He had shaved off his moustache, darkened his hair and wore a burqa for disguise, the RAB said.
The RAB believes Shahed has at least 50 cases against him.
More people began complaining about him after the scam was unearthed, Abdullah said.