Embezzlement of Tk 22,000cr, ACC to launch inquiry against Salman

There is an allegation that a syndicate involving Vice Chairman of Beximco Pharmaceuticals Salman F Rahman and several others embezzled Tk22,000 crore government money in the procurement of Covid-19 vaccines.

Allegations have been raised against former Health Minister Zahid Maleque, former Chairman of  Bangladesh Medical Research Council (BMRC) Modasher Ali, former Health Secretary Lokman Hossain and some other influential persons.

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has decided to launch an inquiry into the syndicate involving Salman F Rahman.

ACC Director General Akhtar Hossain informed this while briefing journalists on Monday afternoon (17 March).

ACC has already formed a team to investigate the matter. 

Earlier, Moidul Islam, an official of the Bangladesh Medical Research Council (BMRC), summited a petition, stating that Beximco Pharma was included as a supplier in the procurement of three crore doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine from the Serum Institute of India.

It alleged that government procurement rules were not followed in the vaccine purchase agreement between the Bangladesh government, Beximco, and the Serum Institute. 

Beximco was included as a third party in the import process without a valid reason, leading Bangladesh to purchase the vaccine at a higher price than other countries.