Shahabuddin hospital smuggled rapid kits from China: RAB

Shahabuddin Medical College Hospital smuggled rapid kits for Covid-19 tests from China, said sources at the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB).

The RAB recovered the same kits that the hospital authorities had been using for coronavirus tests without any approval from the government.

Faisal Al Islam, managing director of the hospital, is the mastermind of the Covid-19 test scam. He smuggled testing kits and unauthorised medicine from abroad, according to RAB sources and the case statement.

RAB officials said as per a directive from Faisal, the hospital has been running Covid-19 tests using rapid test kits. Providing fake Covid-19 certificates and gobbling up a big amount of money from patients was his plan.

Meanwhile, a Dhaka court on Tuesday placed three people, including Faisal Al Islam, on a five-day remand each in a case filed in connection with coronavirus test irregularities.

Two other remanded persons were Assistant Director of the hospital Abdul Hasnat and Inventory Officer Shariz Kabir Shadik.

Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Asheque Imam passed the order when sub-inspector of Gulshan Police Station Mashiur Rahman, also investigation officer of the case, produced them before the court with a seven-day remand prayer.

The RAB on Monday night arrested Faisal, who is the son of Mohammad Shahbuddin, owner of the hospital.

They also filed a case with Gulshan police station on Monday night against the three.

On Sunday, the RAB raided the hospital in Gulshan. RAB officials also said the hospital was treating non-Covid-19 persons as Covid-19 positive patients to draw huge treatment bills and they were also charging excessive money from patients.

The RAB then said they would seal off the hospital, but later decided to give a 15-day timeframe.

"We have given the hospital authorities 15 days to improve the hospital's treatment facilities and address Covid-19 testing irregularities," said RAB executive magistrate Sarwoer Alam