Forging Covid-19 Test Results: SMCH MD, two others on remand

A Dhaka court yesterday placed three people, including the managing director of Shahabuddin Medical College Hospital (SMCH), on a five-day remand each in a case filed for conducting unauthorised antibody tests to detect Covid-19 and forging test reports.

The accused are Faisal Al Islam, 34, the managing director, Abul Hasnat, 52, the hospital's assistant director, and it's inventory officer Shahriz Kabir, 33.

Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Md Ashek Imam passed the order after Md Moshiur Rahman, an inspector of Gulshan Police Station and also the investigation officer (IO) of the case, produced them before court with a seven-day remand prayer for each.

In the prayer, the IO said they were directly involved in issuing unauthorised Covid-19 test kits and forging coronavirus test reports and so, they need to be remanded to gather vital information about the incidents and to know the whereabouts of others responsible for committing such offences.

On the other hand, the defence submitted two separate petitions seeking bail along with cancellation of the remand prayer, claiming their clients' innocence.

After hearing both sides, the magistrate turned down the bail petitions and issued the remand order.

Rapid Action Battalion arrested Faisal from a hotel in Gulshan area of Dhaka yesterday, while the two others were arrested during the drive conducted at the hospital on Sunday.

Nayek Subeder Fazlul Bari of Rab-1 filed the case with Gulshan Police Station.