‘Niece’s Husband Syndicate’ in the Health Ministry: The Blueprint for Looting Remains Unchanged Despite Government Change?
Allegations of a powerful circle surrounding transfers, postings, and tenders; old contractors under a new umbrella too
Although there was an expectation of change in the health sector, in reality, the old picture has allegedly returned. A report by Shirsho News alleges that the syndicates of the previous regime have been newly organized during the current government’s tenure. Now they are operating under the umbrella of a ministry-centric circle. According to the report, policymakers also prefer these familiar faces because they have money in their hands and the skill to ‘manage’ everything.
Who Are Leading the Circle
The report claims that the main leader of this ring is Joint Secretary (Per) Md. Mustafizur Rahman, who is a relative (niece’s husband) of Health Minister Sardar Md. Sakhawat Hossain Bakul. Three other names have come up at the leadership level:
- Minister’s APS Mostafizur Rahman
- CMSD Director and Joint Secretary Mohammad Shafiur Rahman
- Minister’s PS A B M Iftekharul Islam Khandakar
How the Circle Was Formed
According to the report, both the Joint Secretary and the Minister’s APS have their village homes in Magura. It is alleged that the Joint Secretary himself selected the APS, whereas usually, a minister brings someone familiar or from their own area to this position. It has also been claimed that the Joint Secretary was identified as an associate of an influential official in the Local Government Ministry during the previous regime.
CMSD Director Shafiur Rahman’s home is in Bogura. He is claimed to be powerful, with the identity of the ‘nephew’ of the Prime Minister’s Principal Secretary. The same report has raised allegations against him of taking advantage as a former Chhatra League leader and of plot forgery during his tenure at the National Housing Authority. There are also allegations against PS Iftekharul Islam Khandakar of discrimination in promotion during the previous government and obtaining the post of Deputy Commissioner in exchange for money during the interim government.
‘Rate’ in Transfers and Postings
Being in charge of the Per branch, the control over recruitment, transfer, and promotion is in the hands of Mustafizur Rahman, it is claimed. It is alleged that 5 to 10 lakh takas are collected for each posting, and 20 lakh or more for important posts. According to the report’s version, officials who became wealthy illegally during the previous regime are taking advantage of this. As a result, the postings in the cases of the Director of Suhrawardy Hospital, Divisional Health Director of Barishal, and Civil Surgeon had to be canceled, which is also tarnishing the government’s image.
Old Contractors, New Umbrella
The report claims that in the previous 15 years, small contractors and some second-and-third-class employees of the health sector have become owners of assets worth hundreds of crores of taka by doing contracting anonymously. As the Operational Plan (OP) was canceled, large development allocations have been stopped for the last two years. Consequently, the contractors’ focus is now on purchasing MSR items for hospitals. The report alleges:
- The MSR business of the whole country is held hostage by a handful of contractors
- Tender manipulation in the name of multiple institutions
- Controlling tenders by grabbing PE passwords in advance in collusion with hospital authorities, even canceling tenders of other bidders despite them giving good rates
The context of old discussed names has also come up. Abjal Hossain is in prison. Motazzerul Islam Mithu was in prison for a few months during the interim government. Relevant sources claim that Sajjad Munshi, discussed in the ‘curtain scam’ of Faridpur Medical College Hospital, is connected to the current syndicate. According to sources, he also had a meeting with the minister at a secret location. In the tender circle, the names of Moniruzzaman Dhali, Emdad Hossain, and Rabiul Islam have also come up. There are allegations that the contracting business of Madaripur Swechchhasebak League leader Miraz Hossain is still running dominantly.
The Unfinished Chapter of CMSD and ACC
The report states that the purchases of the Central Medical Stores Depot (CMSD) are now fully under the control of this ring. Who will get work where is also being decided by them; it is claimed that no one else gets even a single taka’s work outside the syndicate’s wishes. In the past, the ACC took action against 23 employees in 2019 and another 12 employees in 2020. But the investigation stopped, and it is claimed that most of the accused are as active as before.
Influence on Doctors’ Organizations Too?
The pro-BNP doctors’ organization DAB is divided into multiple factions. It is alleged that the syndicate is taking advantage of this division. By giving minor benefits to some leaders, the rest are being kept under pressure; there are even allegations of instigating conflicts.
Core Message
The core message of the report is that even though power has changed hands, the cycle of structural corruption in the health sector has not broken. Only the faces of the controllers and patrons have changed.
