Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) has identified 28 out of its 75 wards as high-risk areas for dengue transmission, according to DSCC Administrator Freedom Fighter Md. Abdus Salam. He announced that a weeklong special 'crash program' will begin Sunday to combat dengue in these wards. The declaration came during the inauguration of a special anti-dengue campaign at Rabindra Sarobar in the capital, attended by Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md. Shakhawat Hossain as chief guest.

The event marked the formal launch of a three-month nationwide campaign led by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare to raise awareness, destroy Aedes mosquito breeding sites, and ensure a clean environment. Speakers emphasized that personal and family awareness is essential, urging citizens to keep homes, rooftops, and surroundings clean and free of stagnant water.

Minister Shakhawat Hossain stated that extensive awareness campaigns, including public announcements, are starting immediately. He warned that mobile courts will impose maximum fines wherever Aedes larvae are found. The minister also noted that the Prime Minister had alerted authorities two months earlier, prompting joint preparations by city corporations and the health department.

Supreme Court lawyer Advocate Shishir Monir has termed the health ministry’s declaration to cancel Ad-Din Hospital’s license as unlawful. He made the statement on Saturday, June 6, at a hotel in Tejgaon, Dhaka, during a meeting attended by the hospital authorities and families of the deceased infants. The Directorate General of Health Services had issued a show-cause notice to the hospital following the deaths of six newborns, asking for a response by Sunday, June 7. Monir argued that the notice’s warning of license cancellation was completely illegal.

He also criticized the ministry’s investigation report, which cited oxygen shortage and increased carbon dioxide levels as causes of death, for lacking specific data on gas levels. Monir said the report failed to clarify what oxygen levels would have prevented the deaths, calling it vague. One bereaved father, Habibur Rahman, said families wanted punishment for those responsible but did not want the hospital closed. The hospital announced free lifelong treatment, jobs, and compensation for affected families.

Earlier, Health Minister Sardar Md. Sakhawat Hossain said the investigation found negligence at Ad-Din Hospital and that legal action would follow.

Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md. Shakhawat Hossain announced that mobile courts will be conducted every two to three days to strengthen dengue prevention efforts. Institutions where dengue mosquito larvae are found will face fines. He made the announcement on Saturday morning at the inauguration of a three-month special anti-dengue campaign at Rabindra Sarobar in Dhanmondi.

The minister warned that this year’s dengue infections could be more severe, with risks of hemorrhagic dengue leading to bleeding soon after infection. He urged early awareness and preventive action to reduce the threat. Dhaka South City Corporation Administrator Abdus Salam also emphasized public awareness as a key factor in prevention.

According to Abdus Salam, 63 wards of Dhaka South City Corporation are at risk of dengue, with 28 wards identified as highly vulnerable. He stated that dengue prevention requires joint responsibility, with citizens and the city corporation each contributing 50 percent of the effort.

A recent survey by the Dhaka South City Corporation has found dengue-carrying Aedes mosquito larvae in approximately 60 to 80 percent of inspected homes. The findings were disclosed by the corporation’s administrator, Abdus Salam, during a reunion event at Silverdale Preparatory and Girls High School in Wari on Friday, June 5, 2026. He warned that the risk of dengue in the capital remains significant and urged residents to remove stagnant water and maintain cleanliness in and around their homes.

Salam emphasized that dengue control cannot rely solely on city corporation activities and called for active public participation to prevent mosquito breeding. He noted that eliminating standing water in flower pots, discarded containers, and rooftop corners could substantially reduce mosquito proliferation. The administrator also discussed plans to expand sports and student-friendly facilities in schools and to establish organized rehabilitation for street vendors.

Public health experts have expressed renewed concern over the survey results, warning that without prompt preventive measures, the risk of dengue transmission in Dhaka could increase further.

A complaint has been raised regarding a discrepancy in blood group determination at Jaldhaka Upazila Health Complex in Nilphamari. According to the report, the wife of Motaleb Hossain from Dakshin Kazirhat area was admitted to the health complex on Monday, where her blood group was identified as O negative. Later, at Rangpur Technologist Diagnostic Center, her blood group was reported as A negative.

Upazila Health and Family Planning Officer Dr. Nanda Sen Gupta stated that applying O negative blood to an A negative patient generally poses no risk. However, the patient’s husband alleged that when he questioned the discrepancy, Dr. Gupta behaved discourteously and asked if he was trying to intimidate him. Office-in-Charge Mominul Islam explained that reagent issues had hindered the accuracy of the report.

The incident has raised concerns about testing reliability at the local health complex, with officials citing technical limitations as the cause of the error.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that around 1.5 million people die each year from consuming food contaminated with harmful bacteria, viruses, parasites, or chemicals. The agency’s latest analysis, covering data from 194 countries between 2000 and 2021, found that about 886 million people suffer from foodborne illnesses annually, with children under five facing nearly three times higher risk than others.

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus emphasized that food safety is directly linked to daily life and family well-being. The report noted that although global rates of foodborne illness have declined slightly since 2000, regional disparities remain severe. Africa and Southeast Asia account for roughly 75 percent of foodborne disease cases and 60 percent of related deaths. In 2021, biological contamination caused most infections, while chemical pollutants such as arsenic and lead were the leading causes of death.

WHO technical officer Yuki Minato added that climate change and antimicrobial resistance are worsening the problem. The report also estimated that foodborne diseases caused a global economic loss of about 647 billion US dollars in 2021 due to reduced productivity.

At least 20 people were injured in a series of stray and rabid dog attacks in Homna municipality of Comilla on Wednesday. The incidents occurred from morning until 9 p.m. in Ward No. 5, where several dogs attacked men and women without warning. Many victims were forced to buy rabies vaccines from outside due to shortages at local hospitals, according to hospital and local sources. The attacks have caused widespread panic in the area.

Local residents said victims were attacked while working in their yards or walking on the streets, and some were injured while trying to rescue others. Thirteen people received initial treatment at Homna Upazila Health Complex, including ten in the emergency department. The attending physician confirmed that rabies vaccine shortages required patients to obtain doses privately.

Homna’s Upazila Nirbahi Officer Md. Shahidul Islam said the matter is being taken seriously, and necessary measures are being coordinated with the livestock department. The municipal administrator announced that officials will meet Thursday to decide on immediate steps to control the situation.

Professor Dr. M. Fakhrul Islam, speaking in the 'Hello Doctor' segment of Amader Desh on June 3, 2026, discussed the growing prevalence of kidney and urinary tract diseases in Bangladesh. He explained that while diagnostic improvements have increased detection rates, the actual incidence may not have risen proportionally. However, he noted a concerning rise in kidney stone cases among teenagers.

According to Dr. Islam, one of the main reasons behind this trend is the widespread consumption of junk food, which causes metabolic changes leading to higher uric acid levels. He added that urban migration and reduced physical activity among youth have contributed to obesity and related metabolic problems. Dehydration among workers, particularly those employed abroad in Middle Eastern countries, also increases the risk of kidney stones.

Dr. Islam further highlighted that laser technology has made kidney stone removal safer and more effective, especially for smaller stones, while ultrasonic devices are preferred for larger ones. He emphasized early diagnosis and treatment of urinary problems in children to prevent long-term kidney damage.

A 52-year-old woman named Kalpana Rani Mallik died after being bitten by a venomous snake in Shrikola village of Kaliganj upazila, Satkhira, late Monday night. She was the wife of Shree Nirod Kumar Mallik. The incident occurred around 1 a.m. when the snake bit her on the veranda of her house.

According to family and local sources, instead of being taken to a hospital immediately, she was first treated by local traditional healers using conventional methods. As her condition worsened, she was taken to Kaliganj Upazila Health Complex on Tuesday morning. The attending doctor referred her to Satkhira Medical College Hospital for advanced treatment, but she died on the way there.

Kaliganj Police Station Officer-in-Charge Jewel Hossain confirmed the death. The report highlights the fatal consequences of delayed medical intervention after snakebites in rural areas.

Health Minister Sardar Md. Sakhawat Hossain announced that 492 government hospitals at the upazila level, each currently with 50 beds, will be upgraded to 101-bed facilities. These hospitals will include specialized ICU units. The Public Works Department has begun implementation following the Prime Minister’s directive, the minister said at the Secretariat on June 3, 2026.

He added that within six months, five children’s hospitals will be established in each of the Khulna, Barishal, Rangpur, Rajshahi, and Cumilla divisions, each equipped with an ICU. Additionally, a new medical building will be constructed at the University of Dhaka at a cost of Tk 1,100 crore. Bangladesh and China will jointly build five 1,000-bed hospitals for women. The minister stated that the government is working to simplify public health services by reducing corruption.

A pilot program will also be launched in six to ten upazilas to provide door-to-door medical services for both men and women, with plans for nationwide expansion if successful.

Researchers have reported a breakthrough in cancer treatment with a new 'smart drug' that helps the immune system better detect and destroy cancer cells. The experimental drug, GRWD5769, disrupts the mechanism that allows cancer cells to hide from immune attack. In early clinical trials across the UK, France, Spain, and Australia, the drug, when combined with the immunotherapy medicine cemiplimab, reduced tumor size by at least 30% in 15 out of 83 patients.

The study involved patients suffering from six types of cancer—uterine, bladder, liver, intestinal, lung, and head-neck—who had not responded to conventional treatments. The drug works by blocking the enzyme ERAP1, which cancer cells use to evade immune detection. By disabling this enzyme, the drug exposes the cells to T-cell attack.

Lead researcher Professor Fiona Thistlethwaite described the oral drug as convenient and promising in early results, while Professor Stefan Symeonides called it an exciting advance. Researchers emphasized that the findings are preliminary, but if larger trials confirm success, the drug could significantly enhance immunotherapy effectiveness for many patients.

Member of Parliament for Cumilla-4 (Debidwar) Hasnat Abdullah has ordered show-cause notices for five doctors at Debidwar Upazila Health Complex after finding them absent during an unannounced inspection. The visit took place on Tuesday, June 2, 2026, at 9 a.m., when the MP arrived without prior notice and toured various hospital departments, speaking with staff and patients about healthcare services.

The inspection lasted about one and a half hours and was attended by Cumilla Deputy Civil Surgeon Dr. Reza Md. Sarwar Akbar and Upazila Health and Family Planning Officer Dr. Mohibus Salam. The absent doctors were identified as Dr. Saiful Islam Shuvo, Dr. Shamim Kawsar, Dr. Shimul Rani Dutta, Consultant Dr. Sharif Uddin Ahmed, and Medicine Consultant Kazi Ayesha Siddika.

The MP expressed dissatisfaction over the doctors’ absence and warned that strict measures would be taken to ensure punctuality. The Upazila Health and Family Planning Officer stated that the accused doctors must respond to the notices within three working days.

Health Minister Sardar Md. Shakhawat Hossain announced that dengue patients across Bangladesh will receive free medical treatment. He said strict mobile court operations will be conducted nationwide to control the spread of dengue. The announcement came on Tuesday afternoon during a meeting at the Secretariat with owners of private hospitals and diagnostic centers to discuss dengue prevention.

The minister stated that private medical colleges must reserve 10 percent of their beds for dengue patients, who will also receive an 80 percent discount on diagnostic tests. Treatment will be free, though patients will bear the cost of food and medicine. Special larvicidal drugs will be used to destroy mosquito larvae, and four dengue cases have been reported so far. He emphasized that dengue is a national problem requiring collective effort beyond government action.

A three-month nationwide awareness campaign will begin on Saturday, and doctors will receive training on dengue treatment protocols. City corporations will also work to prevent mosquito breeding in all residential and institutional areas.

Nineteen district hospitals in Bangladesh currently have no functioning intensive care unit (ICU) services, according to the Directorate General of Health Services. The shortage has become critical as hospitals struggle to accommodate patients during a measles outbreak. Families are being forced to wait for hours or move between hospitals in search of ICU beds, with many patients dying before receiving care. The crisis is most acute in pediatric hospitals, where demand for ICU beds far exceeds availability.

The report reveals that Bangladesh has 1,620 ICU beds nationwide, about 10 percent of which are nonfunctional. Many ICU units built during the COVID-19 pandemic with World Bank funding are now idle due to corruption, mismanagement, and lack of trained personnel. Equipment worth millions of taka lies unused, and some hospitals have locked or incomplete ICU facilities. Experts say the shortage reflects deeper failures in planning, staffing, and health system management.

Health authorities say the government is working on long-term plans to reopen closed ICUs and recruit skilled staff. However, public health specialists warn that without urgent action, the country’s critical care capacity will remain dangerously inadequate.

A 22-year-old midwifery intern died on Monday while undergoing treatment for measles-like symptoms at the ICU of Sylhet Shaheed Shamsuddin Ahmed Measles Dedicated Hospital. The hospital’s resident medical officer, Dr. Mizanur Rahman, confirmed the death, stating that the young nurse had been suffering from symptoms consistent with measles.

According to hospital sources, the intern had been receiving treatment for an extended period at a private facility, Ragib-Rabeya Hospital, but her condition did not improve. As her health deteriorated further, she was admitted to the Shaheed Shamsuddin Ahmed Hospital on Sunday, May 31, and passed away the following morning despite intensive medical efforts.

The deceased was a resident of Bishwambharpur upazila in Sunamganj and was completing her midwifery internship at the Companiganj Upazila Health Complex in Sylhet. Her untimely death has cast a shadow of grief over the local health department and her colleagues, who have expressed deep sorrow at the loss.