BSMMU sues Aparajita for supplying ‘fake’ masks to health workers

Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University has filed a case against Aparajita Trade International accusing the company of supplying “fake” masks to the hospital.

On Thursday, BSMMU Proctor Syed Mozaffor Ahmed filed the case with Shahbag Police Station, said Inspector Abul Hasan.

The BSMMU issued a work order to Aparajita on Jun 27 to supply 11,000 masks, according to the case dossier.

The company supplied 1,300 masks in the first lot on Jun 30, 460 in the second and 1,000 in the third on Jul 2 and 700 in the fourth lot on Jul 13 to the hospital.

The masks supplied in the first and second lots were flawless, but the masks in the third and fourth batches were found to be faulty when distributed and used. 

The quality of the masks fell short of the specifications, according to the case document. Users found some masks with torn straps, while misspelt English words were printed on some of them.

Due to these flaws, the authority realised that those masks were of low quality and the frontline fighters in the COVID-19 epidemic may risk their lives by using those.

BSMMU served notice on Aparajita owner Sharmin Jahan on Jul 18, seeking an explanation. In reply, Sharmin ‘apologised’ in a written statement on Jul 20, which is equivalent to a confessional statement, Proctor Mozaffor Ahmed said in the case.

The hospital started providing treatment for the coronavirus patients on Jul 4.

Sharmin who graduated from Dhaka University in 2002, was elected president of Bangladesh-Kuwait Friendship Hall Chhatra League. She was a deputy secretary in the Awami League's previous central sub-committee on women and children affairs.

Although she does not hold a post at present, Sharmin is actively involved with the current committee.

On Jun 30, 2016, Sharmin went to study in a university in China's Wuhan on a scholarship. She returned home when a lockdown was imposed in Wuhan on Jan 23 this year after the coronavirus epidemic broke out. But her sabbatical leave is still ongoing.

During her stay in China, Sharmin opened a supply business in March 2019 under the name of Aparajita International.

“We haven’t supplied any fake mask. All these products are imported from China. We’re just supplying them and never made them,” Sharmin said when asked about the allegations against her.

“BSMMU could have told us if the products were faulty. We could check them.”

She added that she will rely on the legal process to fight the allegations. “Anyone can file a case. I have full respect for the law of the land.”