ACC charge-sheeted accused appointed chief of Health Education Bureau

Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) charge-sheeted accused Md Nasir Uddin has been appointed as the chief of the Bureau of Health Education under the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has appointed him to the post despite his having been named in an ACC charge sheet in a case concerning the alleged embezzlement of Tk 1 crore 12 lakh 50 thousand in the procurement of medicines, surgical equipment and pathological goods.

The appointment has drawn objections from the DGHS. Though Nasir Uddin joined the office on September 6 in accordance with the ministry's notification, his joining letter has not been formally accepted even after nearly a month.

According to a notification signed by Imtiaz Hossain, deputy secretary of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Nasir Uddin was appointed to the post on September 2.

Before the appointment, he had been serving as an Officer on Special Duty (OSD) for more than six years and was attached to the office of the Divisional Director of Health in Rajshahi.

The appointment of an official facing a corruption case to a senior post has raised questions within the health sector.

Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md Sakhawat Hossain has assured that action will be taken over the matter.

Speaking to Asia Post on Wednesday (September 30), he said, "I was not aware of the matter. Why and how this happened—I will take action today."

Case documents and ACC statement

According to the charge sheet filed by the ACC, Nasir Uddin was serving as a senior health education officer in 2019. At the time, he was involved in the procurement process at Azimpur Maternity Hospital and Child Health Training Institute.

The procurement involved surgical items and equipment as well as pathological items.

According to the case documents, the procurement of the materials through tenders allegedly did not comply with the laws and regulations of the Directorate General of Drug Administration (DGDA). An allegation was subsequently raised that Tk 1.125 crore had been misappropriated.

The ACC and the Health Services Division of the government later launched separate investigations into the matter.

After nearly five years of investigation, the ACC found Nasir Uddin's involvement and submitted a charge sheet against 11 people, including him, on July 11, 2024.

The Health Services Division had also found his involvement in its own investigation. He was initially suspended but was later reinstated.

On July 27, 2020, he was removed from the post of deputy chief and programme manager of the Bureau of Health Education and made an OSD. He was attached to the Rajshahi health division and remained there until joining his new workplace.

Regarding his OSD status, Nasir Uddin said, "In 2020, I was basically made an OSD for political reasons and kept without work for six and a half years in order to appoint a leader of Swachip (Swadhinata Chikitsak Parishad), an organisation of pro-Awami League doctors."

Several others have also been accused in the same case. They include Sheikh Idris Uddin Chanchal, proprietor of supplier contractor firm Nafisa Business Corner; Dr Israt Jahan, former superintendent of the maternity hospital; and Dr Amir Hossain, head of the paediatrics department.

Others named in the case are Assistant Coordinator Dr Md Lutful Kabir Khan, Medical Officer Dr Begum Mahfuza Dilara Akter and Md Nacher Uddin, former deputy programme manager of the Directorate General of Family Planning.

Former social service officer Bilkis Akter and former medical officer Dr Aleya Ferdousi are also among the accused.

Of them, former social service officer Bilkis Akter is absconding, while the others are out on bail.

Asia Post contacted ACC Assistant Director and investigating officer Ataur Rahman Sarkar to learn about the progress of the case.

He said, "As the examination of witnesses and the trial process are ongoing in court, it is taking some time for the legal process to be completed. The statements, depositions and seizure lists of many witnesses are there. In accordance with legal procedures, the complainant or plaintiff is being examined first. Subsequently, other witnesses and witnesses listed in the seizure documents will be examined in phases. Therefore, the entire process naturally requires time."

Asked whether a person named in a charge sheet can remain in a government post, the ACC official said, "There is no opportunity for anyone named in a charge sheet to remain in a government post."

Referring to administrative rules and practice, Ataur Rahman Sarkar said, "As preliminary evidence of the offence has been found against the accused and a charge sheet has been submitted to the court, under normal practice he should be temporarily suspended, or the concerned department should take action against him."

Asked how a person named in a charge sheet could become head of the Bureau of Health Education, he said, "I do not know about the matter. However, if this has happened, once the concerned department is informed, it will take action in accordance with the rules."

Responding to the same question, Nasir Uddin told Asia Post, "There is no specific allegation against me in the charge sheet; my name has only been included. I have already applied to the court for discharge. If the matter is not resolved there, I will go to the High Court. Since I have not been dismissed, there is no legal obstacle to my remaining in the post."

Complications over joining

In accordance with the notification issued by the Ministry of Health, Nasir Uddin joined his workplace on September 6. However, the DGHS raised objections to his appointment. Although nearly a month has passed, his joining letter remains pending.

DGHS Director (Administration) Prof Dr Md Jalal Uddin Mohammad Rumi told Asia Post, "We are considering the matter. We have been informed about the irregularities involving him (Nasir Uddin). Therefore, his joining letter has not yet been accepted."

The official said the documents from the ACC had not yet reached the directorate.

"We have not received the ACC documents. Since he is an accused named in the charge sheet, we have to examine whether he can remain in this post. After reviewing everything, he will be dismissed or given another form of punishment in accordance with the rules," he said.

Asia Post spoke directly with Nasir Uddin at the office of the head of the Bureau of Health Education in the capital's Mohakhali on Tuesday

(29 September).

Regarding his joining letter, he said, "Although I submitted my joining letter in accordance with the government notification, the DG's (Director General's) office has not formally accepted it yet, branding me politically. Yet I cannot be dismissed in this case. Because I was not a member of the procurement or tender committee. I only signed one document as the representative of the absent civil surgeon."

Appointment made based on ‘discharge’ information

To find out how a person named as an accused in an ACC charge sheet was appointed head of the Bureau of Health Education, Asia Post contacted Imtiaz Hossain, the deputy secretary who signed the appointment notification.

In response, the official said, "We had information that he had been discharged from the case. That is why he was appointed."

Asked whether the appointment had been made without proper verification, the deputy secretary said, "There may have been a lack of information. If the Directorate General of Health Services has not accepted his joining letter, they can collect the information and inform the ministry, and action will be taken accordingly."

When contacted, Health Secretary Dr A.N.M. Bazlur Rashid told Asia Post, "I was not aware of the matter. I learned about it through you. I will look into it and take action."

Flat purchased for Tk 1.07 crore

Nasir Uddin is a Grade-6 government official. He had been serving as an OSD for around six and a half years.

He currently lives in Flat A-301 of Sel Afroza Motaleb Swapnodhara at 90/91 New Eskaton Road in the capital. According to Nasir Uddin, he purchased the flat for Tk 1.07 crore.

Asked about the source of the money, he said, "I had to pay instalments for 10 years to purchase the flat. I bought it by selling ancestral land, taking a Tk 50 lakh bank loan and withdrawing an advance from my provident fund."