RAB arrests Regent Hospital chairman Shahed’s associate

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 charge of issuing fake coronavirus test report certificates in addition to charging the COVID-19 patients admitted at the hospital with exorbitant fees.

In further 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 charge of issuing fake coronavirus test reports.

On Wednesday, a Dhaka court put seven of the eight arrestees on a five-day remand while another was sent to Juvenile Correction Centre in Tongi, Gazipur as he was found to be below 18.