Legal Notice Served on Five Government Officials Over Inaction on Alleged Corruption at Cumilla Blind Welfare Association

A legal notice has been served on five government officials for allegedly failing to take action against corruption, financial irregularities, and mismanagement at the Cumilla National Blind Welfare Association and Eye Hospital.

According to the notice, senior High Court lawyer Abdul Motaleb issued a “Demand of Justice” legal notice on 09 December 2025, naming the Director General of the Department of Social Services, the Deputy Director (Operations), the Cumilla District Commissioner, the Deputy Director of Social Services (Cumilla), the Upazila Nirbahi Officer of Cumilla Adarsha Sadar, and the Upazila Social Services Officer as respondents.

The notice alleges that the hospital and welfare association have been operating with an unauthorized managing committee for over 10 years, without any approved election since 2016. During this period, an estimated Tk 17.22 crore was allegedly misappropriated through corruption, financial abuse, and administrative irregularities.

It also claims that during the July uprising, attacks were carried out on students and members of the public on the instructions of former Cumilla MP Haji A.K.M. Bahauddin Bahar, with alleged involvement of certain doctors and committee members of the hospital.

The notice states that despite submitting a formal complaint to the Department of Social Services on 23 May 2025, along with documentary evidence of fund misuse amounting to Tk 17.19 crore, no remedial action was taken. Although a three-member investigation committee reportedly submitted its findings on 23 September 2025, the authorities allegedly failed to act on the report.

Key questions raised in the legal notice include:

How the hospital has been run by an unelected and unauthorized committee since 2016

Why elections were not held to form a lawful managing body

How the institution continued operations in violation of its constitution

Why individuals accused of corruption, misappropriation, and violence during July–August remain unpunished

The notice further alleges that instead of addressing the complaints, the complainant has been subjected to harassment through various pretexts.

The concerned officials have been asked to respond within seven days, explaining why no action has yet been taken against those identified in the investigation report. As of the time of publication, no response has been received.