Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) said that a gang is taking the blood of floating vagrants around the Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH)and selling it to patients at a high price.
RAB-3 conducted an anti-broker operation in DMCH on Monday (March 4) morning. Meanwhile, RAB's mobile court arrested 65 members of the brokers' gang and sentenced them to various terms of imprisonment.
The operation was conducted under the leadership of RAB-3 Commander Lt. Colonel Arif Mohiuddin Ahmed. The operation is ongoing till the writing of this report.
Commander Arif Mohiuddin Ahmed said that the relatives of patients who came to Dhaka Medical College Hospital from different parts of the country for treatment in the clutches of brokers have been subjected to many ironies. As per the word of Broker Ring, they admitted their patients in different private hospitals or clinics and made their best. We have been working on this for a long time as per the instructions of DG RAB and Health Minister.
He said the members of Broker Ring have formed a syndicate by taking patients who come to the hospital as hostages. We have worked here in white clothes for the past one month. We have video footage and call records of those we arrested today. The National Security Intelligence (NSI) assisted us with information in today's operation.
He also said that every patient who comes to the hospital has to pay step by step. They have been taking advantage of the helplessness of the patients who have been coming here for treatment for a long time and have taken them hostage and forced them to pay huge sums of money.
Arif Mohiuddin Ahmed said, we have caught a blood bank based broker. We got some shocking information from him during the initial interrogation. Those roaming around the Dhaka Medical College Hospital, bring them in the dark of night to draw blood without any examination and store it in fish carrying cartons and later sell it to relatives of patients visiting the hospital at a high price.
He also said that today's campaign is an ongoing process. It doesn't end today. It will continue in every government hospital in a consistent manner. RAB will do whatever it takes to eradicate the evils of brokers. Magistrate is with us, we are working according to law.
When asked by reporters if anyone in the hospital is involved with these brokers, the RAB-3 captain said, "We have so far got the names and information of some fourth-class employees of the hospital." I informed the hospital administration. I hope they will take action according to their laws.
In response to the question about how many members of the Broker Ring you have so far, the skipper said, so far we have the information of 150 to 200 people. We will arrest them in series of operations.