At Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College Hospital in the capital, nearly Tk 47.18 million has allegedly been embezzled in the name of repairing functioning medical equipment by falsely showing them as defective. The allegations have brought the names of former hospital director Dr. Md. Shafiur Rahman, current acting director Dr. Nanda Dulal Saha, and storekeeper Md. Rafiqul Islam to the fore.
At the same time, more than 300 critical and life-saving medical devices worth approximately Tk 1 billion have remained out of order at the hospital for years. The situation is disrupting healthcare services and raising serious questions about the use and management of public funds.
Thousands of low- and middle-income patients from Dhaka and different parts of the country seek treatment at the hospital every day. However, the prolonged failure of essential equipment has forced many patients to seek diagnostic and medical services at private hospitals or other public healthcare facilities.
Tk 47.18 Million Spent in the Name of Repairs
According to hospital documents, Tk 40 million was allocated for equipment repairs in the 2024–25 fiscal year, of which Tk 31.975 million was shown as expenditure. In the 2025–26 fiscal year, Tk 95 million was allocated for repairs, against which Tk 15.21 million was shown as spent.
Thus, a total of Tk 47.185 million was reportedly spent on equipment repairs over the two fiscal years.
The money was reportedly withdrawn through seven quotations for the repair of patient monitors, ECG machines, operating tables, diathermy machines and other equipment. Each bill bears the signature of then-director Dr. Md. Shafiur Rahman. However, biomedical engineers concerned reportedly did not approve or verify the repairs.
Mohammad Touhidul Zaman, the hospital's chief biomedical engineer, said the equipment shown as having been repaired had not actually been defective.
“If any equipment becomes dysfunctional, the biomedical team should be informed first. But we knew nothing about these cases,” he said. He alleged that false quotations were prepared and bills were submitted to misappropriate and distribute the money among those involved.
Touhidul Zaman also said an audit objection had been raised against former director Shafiur Rahman over the matter.
Work Awarded to Storekeeper's Wife's Firm
An establishment named “M/S S.R. Trade International” reportedly received contracts for various repair and supply works at the hospital. The address mentioned in the tender documents is Flat 4/B of House Nos. 314–315 in West Shewrapara, Mirpur.
However, an on-site visit found no office or commercial establishment under that name at the stated address. Residents and locals said the entire building is residential and contains no commercial office.
An investigation found that the company was reportedly established in the name of the wife of hospital storekeeper Md. Rafiqul Islam.
Asked about his wife's firm receiving contracts from the hospital while he was employed there, Rafiqul Islam said his wife was free to conduct business independently.
He did not directly answer questions about how bills were paid without signatures from biomedical engineers and without the materials allegedly being properly received and accounted for.
Regarding allegations that functioning equipment was falsely shown as defective to prepare fraudulent bills, Rafiqul said money had initially been taken from the hospital's cash fund and that, on the director's instructions, bills were subsequently prepared to adjust the amount.
Allegations of Reusing Surgical Gloves
Further allegations have emerged regarding the hospital's store management.
According to the investigation, surgical procedure gloves used during operations were allegedly repackaged and supplied back to the hospital store. It was also alleged that nurses were instructed not to cut or otherwise dispose of used gloves, apparently to conceal the practice.
The hospital requires at least 10,000 pairs of such gloves annually. At an estimated price of Tk 150 per pair, approximately Tk 1.5 million is spent on the gloves each year.
Several nurses alleged that reusing used or potentially contaminated surgical gloves poses a serious risk to patients. Following objections from doctors, the hospital reportedly began supplying better-quality gloves from last year.
Medical Equipment Worth Tk 1 Billion Remains Out of Order
While functioning equipment was allegedly shown as defective for repair purposes, more than 300 critical medical devices have remained out of service at the hospital for years.
The list includes ventilators, MRI and CT scanners, X-ray machines, endoscopy and colonoscopy equipment, patient monitors, ultrasound machines, oxygen generators and air generators, among other essential devices.
The hospital's only MRI machine, purchased in 2016 for approximately Tk 180 million, reportedly became dysfunctional within one or two years and has not been restored since. Of the hospital's two CT scanners, one has remained out of service for around five years. The machine, valued at approximately Tk 40 million, has reportedly not been effectively repaired.
In addition, 40 ventilators, each costing around Tk 3 million, are lying unused. Two portable X-ray machines worth approximately Tk 60 million, seven endoscopy and colonoscopy units worth at least Tk 70 million, more than 30 patient monitors valued at approximately Tk 15 million, and 14 ultrasound machines worth Tk 70.2 million are also reportedly out of service.
Two echo machines worth Tk 8 million, a mammography machine valued at approximately Tk 10 million, and oxygen and air generators worth around Tk 40 million are also lying idle.
The hospital also has 10 laparoscopic machines, each worth at least Tk 8 million, that are reportedly out of order. Their combined value is estimated at around Tk 80 million.
Overall, the value of the medical equipment lying unused at the hospital is estimated at approximately Tk 1 billion.
Questions Over Hospital Revenue
Questions have also been raised over the collection and management of the hospital's revenue.
Automation of the revenue collection system was introduced in January this year. Following the introduction of automation, revenue collection increased significantly.
During the first six months of the 2024–25 fiscal year, the hospital collected Tk 50.241775 million in revenue. During the corresponding period of the 2025–26 fiscal year, the figure rose to Tk 69.98515 million—an increase of Tk 19.743375 million.
Several hospital officials alleged that a portion of the revenue had previously been misappropriated before the introduction of automation. However, the allegations require an independent investigation to establish whether any wrongdoing occurred.
Officials Deny Allegations
Acting director Dr. Nanda Dulal Saha said that all activities had been conducted in accordance with the rules.
Former director Dr. Md. Shafiur Rahman also denied the allegations, saying there were no irregularities in the documents during his tenure.
According to him, when equipment becomes dysfunctional, the concerned department submits a requisition. Biomedical engineers then inspect and assess the equipment, and bills are submitted to the director only after the users confirm that the repair work has been completed satisfactorily.
He therefore claimed that there was no scope for irregularities in the process.
Professor Dr. Jalal Uddin Mohammad Rumi, Director (Administration) of the Directorate General of Health Services, said the allegation that a government employee's spouse had received contracts from the same institution would be investigated.
“If the allegations are proven, action will certainly be taken,” he said.
Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md. Sakhawat Hossain also assured that the allegations would be investigated and that necessary legal action would be taken if any irregularities were established.
The allegations now call for a comprehensive and impartial investigation. At the same time, urgent steps are needed to repair and restore the hospital's large stock of idle medical equipment.
The situation has raised serious concerns over the management of public healthcare resources. On one hand, equipment worth hundreds of millions of taka is reportedly lying unused for years; on the other, there are allegations that functioning equipment was falsely shown as defective and money was withdrawn in the name of repairs. Establishing the facts and ensuring accountability will therefore be crucial to restoring transparency and efficiency at one of the capital's major public hospitals.