Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has directed the immediate activation of six unused children's hospitals located in Rangpur, Khulna, Rajshahi, Barishal, Sylhet, and Cumilla. The order followed a newspaper report published on April 12 highlighting that hospital buildings worth Tk 320 crore had remained unused for years. After reviewing the report, the Prime Minister held an emergency meeting with Health Minister Sardar Md. Sakhawat Hossain, State Minister Dr. M A Muhit, and Health Secretary Md. Kamruzzaman Chowdhury, instructing them to inspect and operationalize the facilities without delay.

The Prime Minister also ordered a comprehensive progress report by June 2, 2026. During the meeting, he directed the full activation of the partially operational 500-bed Kushtia Medical College Hospital and the swift opening of other hospitals, including the super-specialized facility under Bangladesh Medical University in Dhaka’s Shahbagh. Additionally, he instructed the Foreign Ministry to engage the Chinese Embassy to expedite construction of the 1,000-bed Bangladesh-China Friendship Hospital in Nilphamari.

According to the Health Secretary, the Nilphamari hospital will serve as a regional referral center for the northern region, where poverty and limited health infrastructure have hindered access to advanced medical care.