SMCH managing director, 2 others placed on 5-day remand

A Dhaka court today 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 test to detect Covid-19 and test report forgery.

The accused are: Faisal Al Islam (34), MD of SMCH, Abul Hasnat (52), the hospital's assistant director, and Shahriz Kabir (33), inventory officer of the hospital.

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 his court with a seven-day remand prayer for each.

In the remand prayer, the IO said they were directly involved in issuing unauthorised Covid-19 test kits to detect Covid-19 and forging coronavirus test reports.

So, they need to be remanded to gather vital clues about the incidents and to know the whereabouts of others responsible for committing such offences, the IO added.

On the other hand, 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 their 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 against Faisal Al Islam and two others for their alleged involvement in committing the offences.