Tk 20 lakh curtain scam rocks Meherpur hospital

Meherpur 250-Bed General Hospital has uncovered a Tk 20 lakh manipulation in curtain purchase for its new facility.

While the hospital struggles with a shortage of doctors, medicine, and manpower, authorities reported an expenditure for curtains that far exceeds market rates. Locals estimated that the total cost for the 550-600 curtains in the building, including local market prices, fittings, and labor, should not exceed Tk 7 lakh.

More allegations suggest that while a contractor won a Tk 35 lakh tender for OCC and stationery supplies, the hospital only sourced Tk 9 lakh worth of goods from them, spending the remaining Tk 26 lakh through other channels.

Out of this amount, Tk 20 lakh was reportedly spent solely on curtains. According to hospital records for the 2025-26 fiscal year, a firm named Meherpur Trading secured the original contract. However, even after the fiscal year ended, the hospital only took two small shipments from the firm.

A four-member purchase committee oversaw these transactions, consisting of the former superintendent Bulbul Kabir, Abul Kashem, Amena Khatun, and Hasibul Islam.

Confusion persists regarding the actual number of curtains purchased, as the hospital’s head assistant and storekeeper could not provide a clear count. While the entire building houses about 600 curtains with an estimated market price of Tk 500-600 each, the total budget including pipes and fittings should have remained within Tk 7 lakh.

Hospital Storekeeper Poliyara Khatun claimed the former superintendent did not handle the entire process alone, though she said, “Former superintendent Bulbul bought curtains worth Tk 20 lakh for the new building. Head Assistant Asadul Islam Liton prepared the bill. I only received the goods as a storekeeper.”

She admitted she does not know which contractor supplied the curtains and gave vague answers regarding the necessity of such a large purchase.

Asadul defended the actions by adding, “The superintendent is the ‘boss’ of the hospital. As subordinates, we do the work exactly as he directs.”

He explained that the former superintendent purchased the items through spot quotations rather than the winning tender holder, saying, “We only implemented the instructions.”

Asadul noted that they priced each curtain at Tk 1,300, though he refused to show any vouchers for the purchase.

Debashish Bagchi, the owner of Meherpur Trading, alleged that the hospital defrauded him since another contractor cannot legally perform work awarded through e-GP. He said although his firm won the Tk 35 lakh contract, the hospital failed to take Tk 26 lakh worth of goods.

In response, Bulbul explained that they used a specific legal process, saying, “In the case of purchasing stationery items, they were purchased by forming a purchase committee through the appropriation process. The curtains for the new building were also purchased through the same process. The documents are in the hospital.”

He noted that he only completed the process during his three-month tenure starting 11 November, and that the superintendent signed the checks.

However, Superintendent Md Sajjad Hasan denied any involvement, adding, “The previous superintendent made these purchases. I do not know anything about this.”