POBNEWS24, Dhaka Aug 7, 2021 : Due to mistake of packaging staff, more expensive N-95 masks kept for research and development were supplied instead of less expensive ones.
Abdur Razzak, Managing Director (MD) of JMI Group, one of the leading KN-95 mask manufacturers in Asia, has been the victim of various forms of harassment due to the mistake. He had to go to jail and remanded.
It is learned that on March 8 last year, the first corona infection was reported in the country. At that time, the government requested JMI Group to provide 5 million pieces of face masks on an urgent basis before starting the purchase process to prevent corona infection among doctors and other hospital-related people.
The government made the request in a letter dated on March 23 last year. Although the letter did not mention any specification or brand of the mask, JMI Group prepared to supply the face mask as soon as possible considering the epidemic.
According to the investigation, the company provided 8 lakh 3 thousand 610 face masks on an emergency basis only because of the request of the government despite restrictions on movement to prevent corona infection.
While hurrying, 20,610 pieces of N-95 masks kept for research and development were sent instead of the usual face masks. The masks were brought back before anyone could use them as soon as the matter came to the notice of Central Medical Stores Depot (CMSD).
Brigadier General Mohammad Shahidullah, the then Director of CMSD’s store and maintenance section, in a letter directed the JMI Hospital Request Manufacturing Limited to respond within 48 hours.
In response to the letter, the company informed that the mask was in the ‘development stage’. Those supplied were sent by mistake.
In the letter, the company’s MD Abdur Razzak wanted to get rid of the responsibility of ‘unintentional mistake’ by taking back the mask taking the situation into consideration in the country.
At that time, JMI itself informed about the mistake regarding the supply of masks by giving advertisement in various newspapers.
When asked to comment about the matter, Managing Director of JMI Group Abdur Razzak told this correspondent that, ‘after returning to the country from Japan and I established the medical equipment industry in Bangladesh for the first time.
We are now exporting medical equipment to 36 countries around the world. We have been supplying the government the most essential syringes for coronary vaccination. So far 11 crore syringes have been supplied. But I had to go to jail because of a mistake made by the packaging staff of the company, he said.
JMI MD Abdur Razzak said, “This case is for the purpose of harassment. I am the number 7th accused in the case. I did not see any action against the accused upto 6. But when the lower court granted me bail, attempt was made to cancel the bail”.
An attempt has been made to cancel the bail even after the High Court upheld the bail,” he said. Regarding the supply, JMI gave statement that due to the negligence of the factory loaders, 20,610 pieces of JHRML mask kept for research and development were supplied in the box written JMI Face Mask N-95.
It said, there was no reason for JMI to go ahead or be too enthusiastic about the supply of N-95 masks even though the government had no obligation regarding the supply of N-95 masks. This is a (careless) negligence, it is in no way with malicious intent.
JMI’s MD Abdur Razzak said that when the first corona infection started in China, medical and safety supplies were sent to China as gifts by the Prime Minister of Bangladesh.
JMI was also involved in the delivery of the gifts.
He said, the JMI group is carrying out its activities not for economic gain but in the interest of the country and the nation. The money of the gifts, sent by JMI to China, has not yet been paid to JMI.
Besides, JMI has provided 11 crore syringes for the latest corona vaccination in the country.
ACC filed a case against seven people, including JMI’s MD Abdur Razzak, former deputy director of CMSD and caretaker of Cox’s Bazar Medical, for allegedly for supplying 20,000 fake N-95 masks to 10 hospitals with the connivance of some officials of CMSD.
According to ACC case statement, M/s JMI Hospital Request Manufacturing Limited supplied 20,600 masks to CMSD through two consignments. The masks in the consignment are referred to as N-95 face masks (adult). But an inspection of the CMSD revealed that the masks provided were not actually N-95 masks.
After taking remand, the ACC has questioned the JMI MD relating to the case. Later, MD Abdur Razzak had to stay in jail from September 29 to October 15. He was granted bail by the lower court in the case on October 15. Later, the ACC went to the High Court to cancel the bail but it did not work.
After hearing the rule, the High Court rejected the ACC’s application on January 19.
JMI MD Abdur Razzak was also allowed to travel abroad following a court order on March 16.
Safiuzzaman, secretary general of the Bangladesh Association of Pharmaceutical Industries (BAPI), told this correspondent that JMI-produced AD (Auto Disable) is famous all over the world. Recently, the syringes, produced by JMI Group, are being exported abroad after meeting the demand of the country. JMI-Nipro content is available in many countries around the world.
He said, JMI Group is one of the “Top Ten” in Bangladesh’s pharmaceutical industries. But due to the slight negligence of the loaders, its MD Abdur Razzak had to go to jail.
Safiuzzaman said, “I think the owners of the industry in Bangladesh are very scared now. The owners of industries do not directly control workers, there is a chain of command for doing it. I can’t sleep at night for fear that if any staff makes a mistake, I will have to go to jail for it as the owner of the industry.
He observed that the issue of JMI has been exaggerated.
JMI has already exported 15 million (One Crore 50 lac) AD syringes to Indonesia. There is a growing worldwide demand for AD syringes to be applied to the human body during corona vaccination. Several countries, including the United States and the United Kingdom, have expressed their interest in getting the syringes.
If the exports are high, the image and reputation of the country will be greatly enhanced in the international arena in addition to making an important contribution to the economy of Bangladesh.
Meanwhile, the government has allowed the commercial production of KN-95 mask invented by JMI.
There is a huge demand for JMI-produced KN-95 mask abroad alongside the country. JMI Group believes that if this KN-95 mask can be exported abroad, the economy of this post-Corona country will be much stronger.
Safiuzzaman said that owners of many industries in Bangladesh are closing down their industries in the country and opting to go abroad. Many groups including Navana Group, Purbani Group and Ice Cream Company Polar have shut down their operations.
Safiuzzaman said the state has to take action to protect the country’s industry. He said many institutions have gone bankrupt for bank loans due to the failure of the state and government. If this is the case, it is now clear what the position of the industries in Bangladesh will be in the future.
