Dhaka Medical College (DMC) director Brigadier General AKM Nasir Uddin on Tuesday gave an explanation about the spending of Tk 20 crores for food of the hospital's doctors, nurses and health workers.
It may be recalled that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said that the cost seemed to be slightly unusual after deputy opposition leader GM Quader raised the issue at the general discussion on the proposed national budget for 2020-21 fiscal year in parliament on Monday.
The Prime Minister also said, "We're investigating it as to why it is so unusual. We'll take action if any irregularity occurred there," she said.
DMC director Brigadier General AKM Nasir Uddin said not only food, Tk 20cr bills also include two months' hotel rents for the hospital's doctors, nurses and health workers.
He said details would be explained at a press conference at the DMCH at 11:00am on Wednesday.
Brigadier General Nasir Uddin asked why Tk 20 crore would be spent only for food bills. The allocation for food is Tk 500 only which is fixed. There are hotels which charge Tk 2,000, Tk 500, Tk 2,5000 and even Tk 5,000 for one day's stay.
"Maximum amount of money was paid for the hotel rents, followed by their food and conveyances. We have kept 15 minibuses, two microbuses and two buses here for transporting them. These vehicles are used to bring them and then take them back thrice a day (morning, afternoon and night shifts). We said that an estimated amount of Tk 20 crore have been spent for two months' (May and June) expenditures," he said.
The DMC director said, "They wanted to know from us how much would you require for two months' expenses. We have just mentioned that expenditure. I have calculated and found that we would require Tk 20 crore for two months' expenditures. A railway hospital is also here which is run by us and we have estimated Tk 1 crore expenditure for it."
"It's budget. We always want more for our budget. We will scrutinise the bills which wehave received. We will pay the individual's hotel bill from the money. The rest amount of money will go back to the government's exchequer. It's just a normal process," he also said.