Allegation of hacking twice in Tk 9 crore e-tender at Madaripur district hospital, fear of medicine shortage

Allegations have been raised that the e-tender process for buying about Tk 9 crore of medical supplies for Madaripur Sadar 250-bed District Hospital was hacked in two phases. The tender process could not be completed, and with the purchase of necessary medical supplies stuck, there are fears of a medicine shortage at the hospital.

Related sources said the district civil surgeon first invited the e-tender on 15 September to buy medical supplies for the hospital in the 2026-27 fiscal year. But soon after the tender was invited, allegations arose that the e-tender website had been hacked, so the tender process could not be completed.

The first-phase tender was then cancelled and an e-tender was invited again in a second phase on 10 October. It is alleged that the online tender process was hacked in the same way in the second phase as well. Related persons said ordinary contractors are unable to take part in the tender in this situation.

Local people allege that an influential quarter may have an interest behind the incident. An unnamed source claimed that an influential syndicate that has long been trying to get the work may be involved. However, these allegations could not be independently confirmed.

The Civil Surgeon office and hospital sources said the hospital's needs had been met until June of the 2025-26 fiscal year with medical supplies bought through the tender process, and the supply bought with that allocation ended in June. With the new fiscal year's tender process not completed, uncertainty has arisen over collecting necessary medical supplies.

Hospital Resident Medical Officer (RMO) Dr Akhil Sarkar said this year's tender process was not completed due to a technical fault. In this situation, a medicine shortage may appear in the coming days, so it is urgent to complete the tender process quickly, he said.

On Monday, 26 October, Madaripur Sadar Police Station OC Abul Kalam Azad and District Detective Branch (DB) OC Abu Naim said they have not yet received any written complaint from the hospital authorities in this regard. They said legal action will be taken if a complaint is received.

Meanwhile, questions have also been raised over whether a general diary (GD) or any other legal step has been taken over the tender hacking incident. Acting Civil Surgeon Dr Khaliluzzaman said District Civil Surgeon Dr Md Shariful Abedin Kamal is on 15 days' leave, and he was involved with the tender process. Although he is aware of the hacking incident, he does not know who is involved. Details will be known when the civil surgeon returns from leave, he said.

Even after the allegation that this purchase process of about Tk 9 crore was obstructed in two phases, those responsible have not yet been identified. Alongside concern that patients' treatment services will be disrupted, the hospital authorities are in difficulty.