Pabna, Nov 07 (V7N) – Sujanagar Upazila Jubo Dal Convener Siddiqur Rahman Pintu has accused the upazila health and family planning officer of making false and fabricated allegations against him to cover up alleged irregularities and corruption in hospital tenders.
Pintu also alleged that the health official had violated procurement rules to award contract work to her preferred bidders.
He made the allegations at a press conference held at the temporary office of Sujanagar municipal BNP in the municipal super market on Friday afternoon. He also protested reports published in several media outlets concerning allegations made against him by Upazila Health and Family Planning Officer Dr Suprabha Rani.
At the press conference, Pintu said tenders had recently been invited for six packages under the Medical and Surgical Requisites (MSR) budget of Sujanagar Upazila Health Complex.
He alleged that Dr Suprabha Rani had imposed restrictive conditions that prevented even properly licensed contractors from Sujanagar and Pabna from participating in the bidding process.
He further claimed that she had formed the tender evaluation committee according to her own preferences and excluded specialist doctors despite provisions requiring their inclusion.
Pintu also alleged that the bidders were known to the health official and had business connections with her husband.
He said he had merely questioned the alleged irregularities and corruption in the tender process and had not done anything beyond that.
“Instead of addressing the irregularities, she has made false and fabricated allegations against me to conceal her own alleged misconduct,” Pintu claimed.
He also alleged that the health official was not a regular presence at the hospital and said she had been on leave following the tender controversy.
Pintu rejected her claim that she could not attend the hospital because of him.
Several local BNP and Jubo Dal leaders attended the press conference, including Sujanagar Upazila BNP leader Ahmed Ali Pramanik Latu, former BNP office secretary Nader Hossain, Jubo Dal joint conveners Rashed Khan and SM Russell, and Municipal Jubo Dal Joint Convener Abul Kalam Azad.
Meanwhile, Dr Suprabha Rani denied any irregularities in the tender process.
“I have not committed any irregularities. Anyone can make allegations, but they should prove that I have done something wrong,” she said.
She confirmed that she was currently on leave, adding, “I am on leave because I am unable to go to the office.”
The allegations concerning the tender process could not be independently verified.
END/MSR/SMA/
