Supplying fake N95 masks to BSMMU: Sharmin Jahan placed on 3-day remand

A Dhaka court today placed Sharmin Jahan, proprietor of Aparajita International, on a three-day remand in a case filed over supplying fake N95 masks to BSMMU's Covid-19 isolation unit.

Metropolitan Magistrate Md Mainul Islam passed the order after Shah Md Akhteruzzaman Ilias, an inspector of Detective Branch of police and also investigation officer of the case, produced her before the court with a three-day remand prayer.

Sharmin, currently working as an assistant registrar at the DU Registrar's Office, was arrested from the capital's Shahbagh area yesterday.

During today's hearing, the magistrate asked Sharmin whether she can run a business whileholding the post of assistant registrar of DU, but the accused remained silent.

In the remand prayer, the IO said the accused, in association of other accused, produced fake N95 masks and supplied those to the isolation unit of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University. So, she needs to be remanded to gather information about others who are responsible for committing such offences, the IO added.

On the other hand, defence submitted a petition, seeking bail and cancellation of the remand prayer on grounds that their client was innocent.

After hearing both the sides, the magistrate rejected the bail petition and granted her remand.

BSMMU Proctor Prof Syed Mozaffar Ahmed filed the case against Sharmin Jahan, a member of Awami League's Central Sub-Committee on Women and Children, with Shahbagh Police Station on Thursday night.

Previously, she was a leader of Chhatra League.

According to the First Information Report (FIR), BSMMU authorities deiced to purchase safety gears for the frontline doctors of newly launched Covid-19 unit on May 27.

Receiving verbal instructions from BSMMU authorities, several companies submitted samples of masks. Those were later sent to Dysin International Ltd, a DGHS approved lab, for tests.

The lab report mentioned Aparajita International's samples to be the best.

Later, BSMMU authorities sought pricing of the masks from Aparajita International on June 23 and received the quotation on the next day.

On June 27, BSMMU approved the work order to provide 11,000 N95 masks in the name of Aparajita International.

The company then supplied around 3,460 N95 masks in four consignments -- between June 30 and July 13.