Destiny’s Rafiqul in hospital again

Destiny Group Rafiqul Amin
Destiny Group Rafiqul Amin

The managing director of Destiny Group Rafiqul Amin, facing charges of embezzling Tk 40 billion and money laundering, in cases filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission in the Destiny scam, has again been admitted to hospital from jail on excuse of illness.

He has been receiving treatment at room 601 in  BIRDEM hospital of the capital for nearly two and half months, hospital officials said. 

Though doctors did not find any major complications, he continues staying at the hospital.

There is a propensity among convicted and accused prisoners to spend a long time in hospital on pretext of illness. 

Rafiqul was admitted to BIRDEM hospital on 18 January with stomach pains, hospital officials said.

Medical tests at the hospital did not reveal any major complications. An ECG was also done, but no heart ailments were found either. His blood test results were also normal. Finally, he has complained about lumbar inter-vertebral disc prolapse or lower back pains. No medical tests have been carried out for this. He was recommended therapy.

Central jail documents show that  Rafiqul has most of his time in BIRDEM hospital since his arrest. He comes back to hospital after some days in jail and spends a few months there every time.

A physician at BIRDEM hospital, on condition of anonymity, told Prothom Alo that they did not find any major complications this time after running several medical tests on Rafiqul and that is why he is being handed over to different physicians every few days.

Jamal Uddin Ahmed, the doctor who is now treating Rafiqul, declined to say anything, stating that there were certain administrative restrictions to comment on the matter.

Deputy inspector general of prisons Tawhidul Islam told Prothom Alo that the jail authorities have been asked to look into the matter.

 “If his physical condition is all right, he will soon be taken to prison,” he said.

Dhaka Central jail doctor Biplob Kanti Biswas claimed that Rafiqul was sent to hospital after primary investigation of various complications including heart, diabetes and kidney related problems.

“Now it is up to his physician whether he will remain in hospital or be sent back to jail,” he said.

Rafiqul’s lawyer Mainul Islam told Prothom Alo that the jail authorities took measures to send him to hospital as per the jail rules.

“He has to take insulin five times a day. The High Court has directed that measures be taken for his treatment,” he said.

However, ACC lawyer Khurshid Alam told Prothom Alo that he does not know about any HC directive that has asked the authorities to treat Rafiqul Amin in hospital.

BIRDEM hospital officials told Prothom Alo that the hospital authorities wrote to the home ministry in 2013 requesting not to send convicted or accused prisoners to this hospital. Despite the request, influential prisoners are sent to this hospital instead of the government hospital.

Along with Rafiqul Amin, yaba trader Amin Huda, Tofail Ahmed Joseph, who is serving a life sentence, is often admitted to hospital on health grounds. They were in hospital a few days ago. However, after media reports, they were sent back to jail.

When contacted, Transparency International Bangladesh executive director Iftekharuzzaman told Prothom Alo that this has become a common phenomenon for influential prisoners.

“People who are supposed to be in jail after conviction in a graft case remain in hospital on various pretexts. This is not possible without the involvement of the jail authorities,” he said.

He urged the government to make the jail authorities accountable in this regard.

Meanwhile, Prothom Alo did a number of reports about how convicted persons remain in hospital for extended periods of time on various excuses. After the reports, all convicted who were in hospital were sent back to jail. The home ministry also directed the jail authorities not to send prisoners to hospitals in the future. The home ministry also asked for reports on prisoners who were admitted to hospital every 15 days. Reports are being submitted, but the situation doesn’t change.