At least 30 to 35 workers at Color & Co. Ltd., a garment factory in Tepirbari area of Sreepur, Gazipur, fell ill on Wednesday morning, marking the second consecutive day of similar incidents. The workers, mostly women, experienced dizziness, chest pain, abdominal pain, and nausea shortly after production began. The factory halted operations and sent the affected workers to nearby hospitals. On Tuesday, over fifty workers had reported similar symptoms, deepening the mystery surrounding the recurring illness.

According to hospital authorities, most of the affected workers were women showing consistent symptoms. Sreepur’s health officer Dr. Shafiqul Islam suggested the incident might be a case of mass hysteria or mass psychogenic illness but emphasized that confirmation would require investigation. A team led by the civil surgeon has been formed to collect samples and inspect the site. Factory officials confirmed the sudden onset of illness, while workers demanded an impartial probe into workplace conditions following the recent death of a colleague.

Police visited the factory and reported that workers expressed their concerns peacefully as authorities continued their investigation.

Journalist Raihan Ali, injured during the July Revolution protests in Nilphamari, is now fighting for his life at Vejthani Hospital in Thailand. He was attacked by police on August 4, 2024, while covering events at Chourangi intersection. After receiving treatment at Nilphamari Sadar Hospital, Rangpur Medical College Hospital, and CMH, doctors advised his transfer abroad for advanced care.

According to his family, Raihan has undergone more than 18 surgeries in Thailand, with several more procedures still ahead. His condition remains critical, and his recovery is uncertain. Meanwhile, his elderly parents and four-year-old son Labib are living in deep anxiety back home in Nilphamari, struggling emotionally and financially as the family’s resources have been exhausted.

Colleagues and members of the journalist community have called for urgent financial and institutional support for Raihan’s treatment and his family’s survival, describing it as both a humanitarian and moral responsibility.

An opinion analysis by Dr. Shafiul Islam, published on 8 July 2026, highlights growing instability in Bangladesh’s health sector, driven by dissatisfaction among intern doctors, trainees, and FCPS candidates. The unrest stems from proposed policies, poor working conditions, insecurity, and uncertainty about professional futures. The author argues that the quality of medical education underpins the entire healthcare system, and current weaknesses threaten both service delivery and public health.

The article traces the crisis to long-standing mismanagement and inadequate governance. Despite an expansion in the number of medical colleges since independence, quality improvements have lagged behind. Problems include outdated infrastructure, teacher shortages, limited research capacity, political interference, and lack of effective accreditation. Many medical colleges operate in unsafe and unhygienic environments, with insufficient laboratories and modern learning tools.

Dr. Islam calls for a comprehensive reform plan emphasizing infrastructure upgrades, faculty development, research investment, and internationally recognized accreditation. He stresses that sustainable improvement requires dialogue, accountability, and depoliticized regulation to ensure Bangladesh produces competent doctors and a resilient health system.

The Chattogram Railway General Hospital, located in the CRB area, has been opened to the general public but continues to face major challenges in providing comprehensive healthcare. Despite operating both outpatient and inpatient departments, the hospital suffers from shortages of specialist doctors, nurses, health workers, and modern equipment. Patients report delays in receiving treatment and limited diagnostic facilities. Hospital authorities say services will expand once recruitment and equipment upgrades are completed.

The hospital was renamed and opened to all following a memorandum of understanding between the Ministry of Railways and the Health Services Division during the interim government. It was previously restricted to railway employees and tuberculosis treatment. Currently, about 350–360 outpatients and around 10 emergency patients are treated daily, with 83 inpatient beds almost always occupied. However, only 13 of 40 approved doctor positions and 5 of 16 nursing posts are filled.

Officials said financial constraints have delayed the launch of full pathology services, though plans are underway to add surgery, dental, ENT, and radiology facilities. Limited transport access to the CRB area also discourages some patients from visiting, further complicating service delivery.

Dr. Zubaida Rahman, wife of the Prime Minister and vice president of the Ziaur Rahman Foundation, said the government is identifying and addressing existing deficiencies in Bangladesh’s health sector. Speaking on Tuesday at a workshop titled “The Path to Becoming a Health Entrepreneur in Bangladesh” in Gulshan, Dhaka, she stated that the government is committed to ensuring quality healthcare for every citizen and is focusing on greater youth engagement to achieve this goal.

Dr. Rahman highlighted the need to develop young health entrepreneurs capable of tackling current and emerging challenges in the health system. She emphasized training, mentorship, and collaboration among researchers, innovators, investors, and public institutions. Stressing the role of universities, she called for practical learning environments that foster innovation and interdisciplinary cooperation.

She noted that around 72 percent of healthcare expenses are borne out-of-pocket by citizens, making illness a major cause of poverty. Dr. Rahman reiterated that healthcare is a basic right, not a privilege, and said the government’s priority is to deliver services to every household amid rising non-communicable diseases, aging populations, and climate-related health risks.

The Ministry of Health in Bangladesh has announced that dengue diagnosis through the NS1 test will now be available free of charge at all government hospitals. The initiative will remain in effect until December 31, according to an official notification issued by the Health Services Division’s Government Health Management-1 branch on Sunday. The directive instructs the Director General of Health Services to take immediate steps to implement the decision.

The circular states that the decision follows approval from the Finance Division of the Ministry of Finance. The move comes as dengue cases rise across the country with the onset of the monsoon season. So far this year, 7,110 people have been infected, of whom 61.5 percent are men and 38.5 percent are women. Nineteen deaths have been reported in 2026.

The free testing initiative is expected to support early detection and treatment of dengue cases, helping to reduce the disease’s spread and mortality during the current outbreak period.

More than fifty workers at Color & Co. Ltd., a garment factory in Tepirbari area of Sreepur, Gazipur, suddenly fell ill on Tuesday morning, causing panic among staff. The incident began around 10 a.m. when a female worker collapsed on the fifth-floor sewing section, followed by others showing symptoms such as vomiting, abdominal pain, and dizziness. The affected workers were taken to Alhera Hospital at Maona Chowrasta, where most received primary treatment and were later released, while a few remained under observation.

Factory workers said anxiety had persisted since the June 25 death of fellow worker Liza Akter, who died while on duty. The recurrence of illness on the same floor has intensified fear among employees. The cause of the sickness remains unknown. A brief dispute occurred when factory officials allegedly seized a journalist’s phone, later returned after clarification. Administrative officer Sanjib Kumar Dey stated that workers left the premises out of fear, not due to an official closure.

Police and local administration have launched an investigation. The Upazila Nirbahi Officer confirmed that steps are being taken to ensure medical care and determine the cause of the incident.

The Democratic Republic of the Congo has reported more than 500 deaths from the ongoing Ebola outbreak, according to the World Health Organization. As of July 4, at least 506 people had died and 1,561 were confirmed infected. The outbreak, officially declared on May 15, is caused by the Bundibugyo strain, for which no vaccine or treatment currently exists. WHO has begun two clinical trials and authorized emergency use of a molecular diagnostic test.

The outbreak’s epicenter is believed to be Mongbwalu in Ituri province, where the fatality rate has reached 50.7 percent. Health authorities have not yet identified the first patient, and thousands of potential contacts remain untraced. The first month of this outbreak has been the deadliest on record. Neighboring Uganda has reported two deaths and 20 confirmed cases.

The situation has been further strained by a strike threat from frontline health workers in Ituri, who cite unpaid allowances, poor working conditions, and lack of supplies. The virus has also spread near North and South Kivu provinces, where conflict and limited access complicate containment efforts.

The Bangladesh government has announced a plan to perform one million cataract surgeries free of cost to restore eyesight for people suffering from blindness or visual impairment due to untreated cataracts. The initiative was revealed by State Minister for Health Dr. M A Muhith after a meeting between Prime Minister Tarique Rahman and Peter Holland, Chief Executive of the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB), at the Cabinet Division in Dhaka on Monday.

According to the minister, around one million people in the country are visually impaired or blind solely because they have not received cataract surgery. The government aims to provide free surgeries for poor and underprivileged citizens, while others will receive treatment at a minimal cost. Patients will also receive necessary lenses free of charge after surgery. The initiative is part of the government’s priority to restore vision and improve eye health nationwide.

A global conference on eye health improvement is scheduled for November, co-hosted by Bangladesh, where Prime Minister Tarique Rahman will participate. Peter Holland praised the government’s efforts and pledged continued international cooperation in the sector.

Dengue infections in Chattogram have risen sharply, with an average of 11 new cases daily. In the first five days of July alone, 57 people were infected, including 18 in a single day. The divisional health director’s office has identified eight city wards as high-risk dengue hotspots, where one in every four houses contained Aedes mosquito larvae. The survey found that 70–80 percent of the larvae were of the Aedes aegypti species, the primary dengue carrier.

Residents have expressed concern over inadequate mosquito control, alleging irregular spraying of insecticides across the city’s 41 wards. In response, the Chattogram City Corporation (CCC) and the district civil surgeon’s office stated that dengue corners have been set up in all government hospitals, with increased test kits and beds. The CCC claimed that spraying is being conducted daily across seven zones with upgraded equipment and additional manpower.

Health officials have urged citizens to destroy mosquito breeding sites at home. The divisional health director confirmed that coordinated action plans are underway to strengthen mosquito control and ensure effective treatment at the upazila level.

Around 50,000 people required emergency medical assistance during the funeral of former Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei held in Tehran, according to Iran’s emergency services department. The state-affiliated ISNA news agency reported that a total of 48,804 individuals received treatment, including three who underwent successful cardiac resuscitation. Approximately 18,000 people were treated on an outpatient basis.

Authorities confirmed that no deaths or major incidents occurred during the funeral procession. The large-scale medical response reflected the massive turnout for the event, which drew crowds across the capital.

Officials have not reported any further complications, and the emergency services continue to monitor the situation as part of their post-event assessment.

Member of Parliament Nurul Islam Bulbul from Chapainawabganj-3 constituency visited the 250-bed Chapainawabganj District Hospital on Monday afternoon. During the inspection, he toured various departments and later spoke to journalists about the hospital’s operational challenges, highlighting a shortage of doctors and staff that hampers the delivery of comprehensive patient care.

Bulbul stated that the hospital lacks the required number of medical professionals and staff, making it difficult for authorities to ensure full services. He also mentioned that several doctors had recently been transferred from the hospital based on written recommendations by local leaders of a doctors’ association, following controversy involving a private hospital. The MP alleged that these transfers were politically motivated.

During discussions with hospital officials, Bulbul emphasized the need to resolve staffing and service issues promptly to improve healthcare quality in the district.

State Minister for Fisheries and Livestock Sultan Salauddin Tuku has emphasized the need to ensure high-quality medicines and modern services in animal healthcare. Speaking as the chief guest at a meeting with officials of institutions located on the Central Veterinary Hospital campus in Dhaka, he instructed that no expired medicines be used in hospitals and that the highest standards of veterinary care be maintained.

He described the Central Veterinary Hospital as a trusted institution for animal treatment and noted that the number of pets in the country has increased significantly alongside population growth. In this context, he stressed the importance of expanding and modernizing veterinary services nationwide. The minister said the government would prioritize enhancing hospital capacity, ensuring quality services, and expanding necessary infrastructure to make animal healthcare more effective and accessible.

Earlier, the minister inaugurated the distribution of 90 types of medicines and chemicals and 40 types of modern equipment and surgical tools purchased for the 2025–2026 fiscal year to field-level livestock offices.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman of Bangladesh held a courtesy meeting with Peter Holland, Chief Executive Officer of the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB), on Monday at 11:30 a.m. in the Cabinet Division of the Bangladesh Secretariat. The meeting focused on the overall development of eye health services in Bangladesh, prevention of blindness, and reduction of visual impairment.

During the discussion, both sides explored ways to strengthen mutual cooperation in the field of eye health. State Minister for Health Dr. M A Muhith was also present at the meeting. Following the courtesy call, a press briefing was held at the Secretariat where Dr. Muhith and Peter Holland highlighted key aspects of the meeting to the media.

The meeting underscored Bangladesh’s ongoing engagement with international organizations to enhance national eye care services and promote blindness prevention initiatives.

Health Minister Sardar Md. Sakhawat Hossain announced that all clinics in Bangladesh must arrange rooms for normal deliveries by next Saturday or risk losing their licenses. He made the statement on Monday morning while attending a workshop organized by the Midwifery Society at a hotel in Dhaka.

The minister said the decision aims to encourage normal childbirth, recalling that traditional midwives once assisted in deliveries in rural areas. He noted that most births now occur through cesarean sections, which often prevent newborns from receiving colostrum, leading to nutritional deficiencies. He also discussed health issues such as measles, describing it as a deadly disease caused by malnutrition, and emphasized that improving maternal and child health is essential for building a balanced economy.

Hossain further stated that there is no shortage of saline for dengue treatment and advised hospitals not to discharge patients until they are fully recovered.