Staff Reporter:
Allegations of undue influence by Kamrul Hasan Kennedy, general manager of Renata Pharmaceuticals, in government procurement processes across Bangladesh’s health sector have raised questions about transparency, fairness and the timely approval of public purchasing proposals.
According to sources familiar with the matter, Kennedy is alleged to have influence over procurement-related decisions involving the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), the Central Medical Stores Depot (CMSD) and the Directorate General of Family Planning (DGFP). Some sources have claimed that certain procurement files do not move forward without his involvement or approval. These allegations, however, require independent verification.
Several procurement proposals for family planning commodities, including oral contraceptive pills, injectables, implants and condoms, have reportedly been submitted by the Directorate General of Family Planning to the Ministry of Health for approval.
A source familiar with the process claimed that Renata Limited’s tender for oral contraceptive pills (POP) received approval relatively quickly compared with other proposals submitted around the same period.
An unnamed official alleged that similar progress was not observed in other procurement cases. The official also claimed that a proposal from Essential Drugs Company Limited (EDCL) to procure condoms through the Direct Procurement Method (DPM) could potentially have been processed more quickly.
Further allegations concern four procurement proposals for oral contraceptive pills submitted to the ministry. According to sources, two proposals associated with Renata advanced relatively quickly to the Cabinet Committee on Government Purchase (CCGP), while the other two did not make comparable progress.
Sources have also alleged that some officials working in the ministry’s procurement and purchasing wing facilitated the faster processing of certain files, while proposals involving other companies faced delays. The allegations have prompted calls for an examination of file movement records, approval timelines and the criteria applied to each procurement proposal.
The reported delays have become a matter of concern amid shortages of family planning commodities across the country. Sources have further claimed that Kennedy visited the ministry during the day and the residence of the health minister at night on multiple occasions over the past month. The purpose and nature of these alleged visits have not been independently established.
Questions have also resurfaced over the cancellation of a major procurement tender during the previous Awami League government.
According to sources, the tender involved the procurement of 45 million cycles of oral contraceptive pills. Complainants allege that the tender was cancelled after Renata and Navishta Pharma, described in the allegations as a sister concern of Beximco, failed to secure the contract.
The complainants further alleged that the cancellation involved collusion with then-Director of the Directorate General of Family Planning (Materials and Supply), Zakia Akhtar, and then-Director General Sahan Ara Banu.
They claim that the cancellation subsequently contributed to supply shortages within the family planning system. However, documentary evidence establishing the alleged collusion or a direct causal link between the cancellation and subsequent shortages has not been presented in the information available for this report.
Sources said an investigation was conducted into the matter, but its outcome was never made public. The status, findings and official records of that investigation would need to be examined to establish what action, if any, was taken.
Kennedy has also faced allegations concerning his purported connections with the circle of former Health Minister Zahid Maleque and his family during the Awami League administration. Complainants allege that these connections may have helped him influence government procurement decisions for business advantage.
Unverified allegations have also circulated concerning the financing of his children’s education in Australia and Malaysia, as well as the sources of funds used to acquire multiple vehicles, houses, flats and a vessel.
Some employees of Renata Pharmaceuticals, speaking on condition of anonymity, have questioned how Kennedy could allegedly accumulate substantial assets while working in a salaried position.
However, no verified financial records, asset declarations, property documents or findings by law enforcement agencies have been provided to substantiate the allegations of money laundering or unexplained wealth. Such claims would require examination of relevant financial records and, where appropriate, an investigation by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) and other competent authorities.
Concerns have also been raised over the procurement of vitamin A, particularly amid reports of measles and other infectious disease outbreaks in the country.
Vitamin A plays an important role in children’s health, and questions have emerged over whether any proposed procurement was cancelled, suspended or delayed. Sources have alleged that Kennedy may have influenced a decision to reject a vitamin A procurement proposal involving a particular company.
The reasons for any such decision have not been independently established. Relevant authorities would need to clarify whether a proposal was rejected or suspended and disclose the administrative, technical and procurement-related grounds for the decision, subject to applicable disclosure rules.
The allegations have renewed calls for equal treatment of all eligible suppliers, timely processing of procurement files and strict compliance with Bangladesh’s public procurement rules and electronic government procurement (e-GP) procedures.
Procurement specialists generally emphasise the importance of documented decision-making, transparent evaluation criteria and clear audit trails, particularly when public health supplies are in short supply.
Observers have called for an independent review of procurement records to determine whether any company received preferential treatment, whether other proposals were delayed without adequate justification and whether all decisions complied with applicable regulations.
The concerns have gained significance amid reported shortages of family planning commodities. Questions have also been raised about delays in processing related files, despite reported instructions from the Prime Minister during a visit to the Ministry of Health concerning the shortage of contraceptive supplies.
A review of tender documents, file movement registers, evaluation reports, approval dates and relevant communications could help establish whether the delays were administrative, technical or the result of improper influence.
Right of response: The allegations outlined in this report remain unverified and should not be treated as established findings of wrongdoing. Responses from Kamrul Hasan Kennedy, Renata Pharmaceuticals, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the Directorate General of Family Planning and other officials named in connection with the earlier tender would be essential to ensure a fair and balanced account. Any official investigation findings or documentary evidence should also be incorporated before publication.
