1,695 sets of PPEs damaged at CMSD

A total of 1,695 sets of personal protective equipment (coveralls and shoe covers) have been damaged by rainwater due to negligence of duty of some staffers at the Central Medical Stores Depot (CMSD).

CMSD director Abu Hena Morshed Zaman served two show cause notices on senior storekeeper Yusuf Fakir and store assistant Giasuddin Mollah on 19 August, asking them to reply within next three days. Both of them replied on 23 August, putting the blame on some other staffers.

In the show cause letter, Mr Abu Hena mentioned that Yususf Fakir was receiving-in-charge until 09 July when he received 128,590 setsof PPEs on 08 July, 09 July, 13 July and 15 July respectively from International Knitwear and Apparels.

Of the total, 124,590 sets of PPEs were surveyed on 29 July. Although the survey was complete, Mr Yusuf did not handover the PPEs to the storekeeper concerned and kept them in his possession.

"On 08 August, it was known that some of the PPEs were damaged due to rain. The undersigned (CMSD director) immediately sent one deputy director and one assistant director of CMSD to the store and they found the incident as true," said Mr Abu Hena.

The 1,695 setsof valuable PPEs were damaged badly causing financial loss to the government due to negligence of duty, he added.

In reply, Yusuf Fakir said he received 81,000 pieces of PPEs on 07 July, 10,000 pieces on 09 July, 19,590 pieces on 13 July and 18,000 pieces on 15 July from International Knitwear and sent those to CMSD store.

The survey committee received 124,590 pieces of PPEs on 29 July. The survey section instructed bedding and clothing store in-charge Al Amin to receive the PPEs supplied by International Knitwear on 30 July.

But Mr Al Amin received these goods supplied by Smart Jacket on 04 August but he delayed receiving these goods from International Apparels.

After receiving goods, he kept those in a shed outside the warehouse. Insuch circumstances, some of the cartons out of total 600 became wet in rainwater.

On the other hand, Giasuddin said CMSD received more goods than its storage capacity for which all the cartons could not be kept inside the store.

There was waterlogging inside the store due to the faulty drainage system which crossed eight-inch high Dennis system and damaged goods, he added.

[email protected]