More than Tk 100 crore was misappropriated by 14 contractors from the coffers of various government medical colleges and hospitals, as per a list sent out by the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) yesterday.

The 14 contractors were blacklisted by DGHS towards the end of June, a whole six months after the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) asked them to do so. The anti-graft body had submitted an investigation report piling evidence against them.

According to the list distributed by DGHS, a Topkhana-based medical equipment supplier called Bengal Scientific and Surgical Company tops the list with the most amount of money embezzled.

It embezzled Tk 44.9 million from Rangpur Medical College Hospital, Tk 16.6 crore from Satkhira Medical College Hospital in one instance, and a further Tk 60.6 million from Satkhira Medical in conjunction with Messrs Mercantile Trade International and Universal Trade Company.

Bengal Scientific embezzled money from Chittagong Medical College Hospital as well, but the amount was not clearly specified in the DGHS statement. A case was however filed by the ACC against Bengal Scientific and M/S Ahmed Enterprise in this regard on November 25, 2019. In addition, three cases were filed against the company in Rangpur and Satkhira between July and October last year.

M/S Ahmed Enterprise was also named for embezzling funds from Faridpur Medical College Hospital, along with M/S Amin Traders. The amount of money misappropriated by these two contractors was Tk 10 crore according to the DGHS statement. A case was filed in this regard in November last year.

Rangpur Medical College Hospital had another case of misappropriated funds -- when Messrs Manila Medicine, Messrs SK Traders, MH Pharma, Messrs Ovi Drugs, M/S Albira Pharmacy and SM Traders, embezzled Tk 51 million for equipment, Tk 35.1 million for pharmaceuticals, and Tk 95.4 million in unapproved purchases. A case was filed by the ACC in July 2018 in this regard.

The infamous DGHS accountant-turned millionaire Abzal Hossain's wife Rubina Khanam was also named in the statement for embezzling money. Khanam's company Rahman Trade International misappropriated Tk 37.5 crores meant for purchase of equipment at Cox's Bazar Medical College and a further Tk 59 million of DGHS funds. Two cases were filed against the company in April and June of last year.

Blair Aviation misappropriated Tk 7.5 million and pocketed Tk 8.75 million from Dinajpur Medical College Hospital, said the statement, adding that a case was filed in 2015.