Shahed used talk shows, hospital business for criminal activities
Regent Group chairman Shahed alias Shahed Karim has used TV talk shows and his hospital business to get favours from influential people.
He contacted some influential persons over the phone after the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) raided his hospitals.
I did not know Shahed before the outbreak of coronavirus. Shahed phoned me after the operation of RAB. I told him that there was nothing for me to do.Home minister Asaduzzaman Khan
He has been as able to evade arrest till Wednesday. RAB has arrested seven employees of Regent Group and hospitals.
Some influential people, who had contact with Shahed and photographs with him, said he is a known face on talk shows.
They also said he dedicated two hospitals for the treatment of COVID-19 patients. Many considered him as a ‘genuine person’ due to strong statements in the media.
Some newsmen also gave posts on social media appreciating him highly.He carried out fraudulence in the guise of a media personality.
Speaking to Prothom Alo, home minister Asaduzzaman Khan said, “Shahed went to his secretariat office several times and said he dedicated two hospitals for the treatment of COVID-19 patients. I sent patients there.”
The minister also said, “I did not know Shahed before the outbreak of coronavirus.”
“Shahed phoned me after the operation of RAB. I told him that there was nothing for me to do,” Asaduzzaman said.
Foreign minister Abdul Momen said he does not know Shahed personally. “I don’t refuse anyone who comes to take photo with me,” the foreign minister said.
However, Awami League advisory committee member and former ambassador Muhammad Zamir said Shahed would sometimes attend the meetings of sub-committee of international affairs of Awami League. He was a member of an earlier committee.
“I met him several times in the meetings,” Zamir added.
Shahed would visit the office of former inspector general of police Shahidul Haque.
Speaking to Prothom Alo, Shahidul Haque said, “Shahed came to my office one day over a case against his hospital. At that time, he said he is a cancer patient and he had a very young is child. He phoned me at different times. I came to know him through the talk shows.”
Speaking to Prothom Alo, an activist of Jubo Dal,the youth wing of BNP, said he went to the Regent office in Uttata in June 2019. “Shahed talked to Tarique Rahman over Skype in front of me at that time. He had a close link with Tarique’s friend Giasuddin Al Mamun.”
According to website of Regent Group, Shahed has worked on the dredging project of Atrai River. He is involved in the construction work of the primary school and cyclone shelter centres in Cox’s Bazar and Shah Porir Dwip.
Several BNP leaders said the party had no connection with Shahed. But he had n association with some leaders, they said.
They also said Shahed would contact with a section opportunist and controversial leaders when BNP was in power between 2001 and 2006.
Shahed would sometimes attend the meetings of the sub-committee of international affairs of Awami League. He was a member of an earlier committee. I met him several times in the meetings.Muhammad Zamir, Awami League advisory committee member and former ambassador
Sources in the Awami League said he was not on the party before 2015. He started contacting different leaders since 2016. The AL’s 20th council was held that year. He became a member of the sub-committee on international affairs. AL’s 21st council was held in December last year. Two Awami League leaders said Shahed was not included in the committee.
Meanwhile, members of Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) on Thursday arrested a close associate of the chairman of Regent Hospital on allegations of issuing fake novel coronavirus infection certificates from the hospital, reports news agency UNB.
Tariqul Islam alias Tareque Shibli was arrested from Nakhalpara area of the capital around 11:00am, said Sujoy Sarker, deputy director (media) at RAB headquarters.
Important information was gleaned from him during primary quizzing, added Sujoy.
RAB conducted separate drives at Uttara and Mirpur branches of Regent Hospital and arrested eight people on charges of issuing fake coronavirus test report certificates in addition to charging the COVID-19 patients admitted at the hospital exorbitant fees.
In further a development, the head office of Regent Group along with both branches of the hospital were sealed off and 16 people, including the chairman, were sued on charges of issuing fake coronavirus test reports.
On Wednesday, a Dhaka court put seven of the eight arrested persons on five-day remand while another was sent to the Juvenile Correction Centre in Tongi, Gazipur as he was found to be below 18.
*This report, originally published in Prothom Alo print edition, has been written in English by Rabiul Islam.