DHAKA, July 10, 2020 (BSS) – Information Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud today said the government unearthed the irregularities of Regent Hospital, while BNP did not raise any question to this end in the past.
“An agency of the government conducted drives at two branches of Regent Hospital in Dhaka and filed cases against the hospital,” he said while talking to reporters at Awami League president’s Dhanmondi political office here this evening.
Hasan, also the AL Joint general secretary, said the drives were not carried out based on media reports but expressed gratitude to the media for publishing investigative reports on this issue.
Responding to a remark of BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, he said according to media reports, Regent Hospital owner Shahed Karim was connected with Hawa Bhaban during the BNP regime and was in jail for two years too.
The information minister said reports also revealed that Shahed Karim talked to fugitive BNP vice-chairman Tareq Rahman through skype only a few months ago in front of a Jatiyatabadi Juba Dal leader.
He said those who gave Shahid a chance on talk-shows are also responsible in this regard because he used the talk-shows as a shield of deception.
The AL joint general secretary said: “We have probed the matter…he (Shahed) was not in any committee of the Awami League.”
He said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has unequivocally stated that no matter whatever the identity of the corrupt people is, harsher action would be taken against them.
As part of this, Hasan said, action is being taken against Shahed and other fraudsters.
About a statement of BNP leader Ruhul Kabir Rizvi on sending Bangladeshi passengers back to the country from Italy, the information minister said Rizvi’s comment goes against the country and its people.
He said flight movement is yet to get normal in any country of the world due to coronavirus pandemic. “Bangladesh also sent back foreign passengers who appeared to be infected with coronavirus,” he added.
About the demise of AL presidium member Sahara Khatun, the AL joint general secretary said her death is an irreparable loss to the country’s politics.
Sahara Khatun was a very loyal colleague of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, he added.
When Sheikh Hasina was imprisoned in 2008, Hasan said, Sahara Khatun played a key role in the legal and political struggles for the release of the AL chief.
He said the senior AL leader had stood from the front in all the hard times of Awami League and was imprisoned many times.