The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has initiated an investigation into allegations of embezzlement involving BDT 22,000 crore in COVID-19 vaccine procurement. Former adviser to ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Beximco Vice Chairman Salman F Rahman, along with several others, are under scrutiny.
On Monday, ACC Director General (Prevention) Md. Akhter Hossain confirmed the investigation to journalists.
According to ACC sources, the procurement and distribution costs of Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines imported from India were reported at BDT 40,000 crore. However, Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) estimates suggest the actual expenditure should not have exceeded BDT 18,000 crore. The remaining BDT 22,000 crore is alleged to have been misappropriated by Salman F Rahman and his syndicate.
The ACC reports that a powerful network, led by former Health Minister Zahid Maleque and Salman F Rahman, operated within the government to control vaccine procurement. Other key members of this syndicate included former Health Secretary Lokman Hossain, Bangladesh Medical Research Council (BMRC) Chairman Modasser Ali, and former Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister Ahmad Kaikaus. This group allegedly obstructed the approval of Bangladesh’s locally developed vaccine, Bangavax, while securing their own financial interests.
Former Health Minister Zahid Maleque had claimed that the government spent BDT 40,000 crore on vaccine procurement and distribution. However, TIB’s research suggests the actual cost should have been no more than BDT 18,000 crore.
Reports indicate that Salman F Rahman received undisclosed commissions from India’s Serum Institute, a deal that allegedly did not occur in any other country. ACC findings suggest that Beximco Pharmaceuticals profited BDT 77 per dose after covering all costs from the import of Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccines. Beximco reportedly procured 70 million doses from the Serum Institute at BDT 425 per dose, totaling BDT 2,175 billion.
Additionally, the procurement of 3.15 million doses of China’s Sinopharm vaccine cost BDT 27.475 billion, translating to BDT 8,722.20 (approximately USD 100) per dose. However, government committees had initially approved purchasing 15 million Sinopharm doses at only USD 10 per dose, highlighting significant financial irregularities.
The ACC suspects that this network pocketed at least BDT 22,000 crore through manipulated vaccine imports. By leveraging political influence, Salman F Rahman allegedly directed lucrative deals to his own company, resulting in the misuse of state funds and stifling Bangladesh’s potential for domestic vaccine production.
LND/BG
