A medical board at Evercare Hospital in Dhaka has decided to perform brain surgery on Mirza Abbas, a member of the BNP Standing Committee and political adviser to the Prime Minister. The decision was announced on Friday, March 13, 2026, by BNP Health Affairs Secretary Dr. Rafiqul Islam, who said Abbas was taken to the operating theater at 3:10 p.m. following the board’s review.

Earlier in the day, a CT scan revealed a deterioration in Abbas’s condition, prompting an emergency virtual meeting of the medical board. The board, comprising prominent neurology specialists including Professors Ali Uzzaman Joardar, Kazi Din Mohammad, Shahabuddin Talukder, Rajiul Haque, Syed Saeed Ahmed, Kader Sheikh, and Shafiqul Islam, made the decision with the consent of Abbas’s family.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman visited Evercare Hospital after Friday prayers and was briefed by the medical board. Dr. Rafiqul Islam requested prayers from the public for Mirza Abbas’s recovery.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has called on citizens to take preventive measures against dengue and chikungunya through a special video message released on Wednesday. He warned that both diseases have become serious threats to public health but emphasized that awareness and early prevention can protect people from infection. Experts noted that Aedes mosquitoes transmit these diseases, making proactive control essential.

The Prime Minister explained that although dengue outbreaks are most common from June to October, infections can occur at any time. He urged people to prevent water from accumulating in containers such as drains, flower pots, buckets, and discarded tires, and to keep water tanks covered. He also announced a nationwide cleanliness campaign starting March 14, to be conducted weekly, with members of parliament and local representatives encouraged to lead community cleaning efforts every Saturday.

Rahman reiterated that the government’s health policy prioritizes prevention over treatment and reminded citizens that cleanliness and awareness remain the most effective defenses against mosquito-borne diseases.

Research and advocacy group PROGGA (Knowledge for Progress) and the Anti-Tobacco Media Alliance (ATMA) have called for the immediate passage of the 'Smoking and Tobacco Products Usage (Control) (Amendment) Ordinance, 2025' as a law in the first session of Bangladesh’s new Parliament. The demand was made at a press conference held on Wednesday at the National Press Club’s Manik Mia Hall in Dhaka.

Speakers at the event noted that the current government had pledged in its election manifesto to take legal measures to control non-communicable diseases caused by tobacco use. They argued that passing the ordinance into law would help protect public health by discouraging the use of nicotine products such as e-cigarettes and vapes, and by shielding non-smokers, including women and children, from secondhand smoke exposure.

According to data presented at the conference, tobacco use causes around 200,000 deaths annually in Bangladesh, with health and environmental damages estimated at Tk 87,000 crore per year—more than double the revenue earned from the tobacco sector. Advocates warned that without stronger legislation, the harmful effects of tobacco on public health and the economy will continue to worsen.

Professor Dr. Prabhat Chandra Biswas has been appointed as the acting Director General of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) in Bangladesh. The appointment was announced on Tuesday through a notification issued by the Health Services Division of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. According to the order, the BCS (Health) cadre officer has been transferred from his current position and assigned as DGHS Director General (Grade-1). The order, issued in the public interest, takes immediate effect.

Before this appointment, Dr. Biswas served as a professor in the Department of Urology at Dhaka Medical College. He has long been involved in the treatment and surgery of kidney, urinary tract, and prostate diseases, and is recognized as a specialist in urology services in the country. He holds MBBS, MPH, and MS degrees in Urology and has received special training in minimally invasive surgery.

With nearly three decades of experience in medical service and academia, Dr. Biswas is also active in professional organizations and serves as an executive committee member of the Dhaka University Alumni Association.

Five people were injured in a rush to evacuate Shibchar Upazila Health Complex in Madaripur after a fire scare on Sunday night. The incident occurred around 10 p.m. on March 8, 2026, when patients, relatives, and staff hurriedly fled the six-story hospital building fearing a fire. Fire service personnel arrived shortly after and found no evidence of an actual fire. Patients returned to their wards about two hours later.

According to hospital officials, the panic began when an oxygen cylinder on the sixth floor leaked, producing a loud noise and causing the women’s ward to go dark. The sudden sound led patients and attendants to believe a fire had broken out. Resident Medical Officer Dr. Ibrahim confirmed that the noise came from a leaking oxygen valve and that no fatalities occurred. Fire Station Officer Tapan Kumar Ghosh said the situation was brought under control without major damage.

Authorities reported that the hospital resumed normal operations later that night after confirming there was no fire hazard.

On Monday morning, March 9, 2026, a severe shortage of doctors was observed at Burichang Upazila Health Complex in Cumilla. At 8:30 a.m., only three of the 26 doctors were present, while 23 were absent. According to the Upazila Health Officer, four doctors were officially on leave. The officer stated that he was attending a coordination meeting at the Cumilla Civil Surgeon’s office and would look into why most doctors had not reported for duty.

Patients arriving at the hospital faced significant difficulties. One patient reported waiting half an hour as the ticket counter remained closed, and several rooms were locked. Another patient, injured in an accident, had to be referred to Cumilla for advanced treatment due to the absence of senior doctors, which her family said was financially burdensome.

Cumilla Civil Surgeon Ali Nur Mohammad Bashir confirmed that government doctors are required to report by 8 a.m. and said an investigation is underway to determine why only three doctors were present at the facility.

A mobile court in Chuadanga’s Damurhuda upazila sealed Life Care Medical Center in Karpasdanga on Saturday for operating illegally and in an unhygienic environment. The court fined the center’s owner, Mamunur Rashid Shawon, Tk 200,000 under the Consumer Rights Protection Act 2009. The operation took place from late morning to afternoon across Karpasdanga, Damurhuda Sadar Union, and Darshana municipality.

According to court sources, none of the individuals working as nurses at the clinic were registered, and untrained staff were administering injections and collecting test samples. Assistant Commissioner (Land) and Executive Magistrate Shahin Alam stated that the clinic lacked a valid license, had unsafe surgical and post-operative practices, and maintained a hazardous environment. Damurhuda Upazila Health Officer Dr. Moshior Rahman said expired reagents and unclean facilities were also found.

Chuadanga Civil Surgeon Dr. Hadi Zia Uddin Ahmed confirmed that similar drives will continue under new directives from the Ministry of Health to ensure compliance among private healthcare providers.

Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Sakhawat Hossain Bakul made an unannounced visit to the Palash Upazila Health Complex in Narsingdi on Saturday morning, March 7, 2026. The inspection followed complaints that doctors were not arriving at their workplace on time. During the visit, the minister found that out of 21 doctors assigned to the hospital, five were on leave, and only eight of the remaining sixteen were present. Two of those present arrived after the scheduled time.

Minister Bakul stated that the visit confirmed reports of doctors failing to attend duty on time. He added that disciplinary action would be taken against those absent according to official regulations. The inspection aimed to ensure accountability and improve attendance among medical staff at government health facilities.

The minister’s action highlights ongoing efforts to strengthen discipline and service quality in public healthcare institutions, with further administrative measures expected following the findings of this visit.

NCP chief organizer and Comilla-4 MP Hasnat Abdullah emphasized the need to ensure desired healthcare services at the grassroots level during a visit to Debidwar Upazila Health Complex on Friday. Speaking to journalists after inspecting the facility and attending a health committee meeting—the first in 17 years—he said the hospital faces shortages of doctors, staff, and equipment. The last such meeting was held in 2009, and he announced that meetings will now be held in the first week of every month.

Abdullah noted that the 50-bed hospital often accommodates over 100 inpatients daily and sees about 1,000 patients per day, with only five active doctors. He highlighted issues such as inadequate residential facilities for doctors, insufficient sanitation staff, and limited medical equipment including ECG and digital X-ray machines. Decisions were made to address these problems and to recruit more doctors and cleaners.

He added that two new doctors will join on Sunday and that the hospital building will be rebuilt into a four-story structure with a six-crore taka allocation expected by 2029.

Health and Family Welfare Ministry’s Health Services Division Secretary Mohammad Kamruzzaman Chowdhury announced that broker networks will be eradicated from hospital complexes to ensure uninterrupted medical services for the public. He made the statement on Friday during a visit to the 50-bed Begumganj Health Complex in Noakhali, emphasizing that government hospitals are the last resort for many citizens and that no broker activity will be tolerated.

The secretary said strict monitoring has already been increased around hospitals, and authorities have been instructed to take necessary actions against fraudulent brokers who mislead patients into private clinics or diagnostic centers. Coordinated efforts among the administration, police, and hospital authorities are underway to identify and remove such brokers. Measures include tightening security at hospital entrances, installing CCTV cameras, setting up information centers, and raising awareness so patients seek services directly from official counters.

He further warned that any hospital staff found involved with brokers will face strict administrative action, including possible dismissal. The ministry is implementing various steps to ensure transparency, accountability, and zero tolerance for corruption in the health sector, following directives from the Prime Minister.

Bangladesh’s Health Minister Sardar Md. Sakhawat Hossain announced that a government doctor’s medical license has been suspended for six months after he was found treating private patients during official duty hours. The minister said the action was taken to maintain discipline in the health sector and ensure accountability among government physicians. The announcement came on Thursday, March 5, 2026, during a press conference at the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

The accused, Dr. Rajesh Majumdar, a junior consultant (pediatrics) at a district hospital, was caught on camera on February 26 visiting a private chamber while on government duty. Following the incident, the ministry issued a show-cause notice, suspended his license, and initiated departmental proceedings. The minister stated that similar actions would be taken against any government doctor found engaging in private practice during official hours.

He added that surveillance has been strengthened to detect such irregularities, including possible intelligence operations. The minister emphasized that the goal is to ensure patient care in public hospitals and improve doctors’ sense of responsibility.

Bangladesh Health Minister Sardar Md. Sakhawat Hossain announced that disciplinary measures will be taken against government doctors found absent from their workplaces during official hours. He made the statement on Thursday afternoon during a press briefing at the Ministry of Health conference room.

The minister cited the recent dismissal of Dr. Rajesh Majumdar, a physician at the 250-bed Shariatpur District Hospital, who was terminated for signing the attendance register and then attending patients at a private clinic during office hours. The minister urged other doctors to learn from this example and warned that political affiliation would not be accepted as an excuse for absenteeism.

He further stated that any government doctor found absent during official hours in the future could face license suspension and other disciplinary actions, reinforcing the ministry’s stance on maintaining accountability within the public healthcare system.

Finance and Planning Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury has returned to his residence in Gulshan after receiving medical care under close observation for four days. His personal assistant, Shahiduzzaman, confirmed on Wednesday that the minister was discharged from the hospital at noon and advised by doctors to take complete rest.

According to the assistant, the minister continues to handle urgent ministry files and official duties from home. During his hospital stay, he also managed essential administrative work from his hospital room. Amir Khosru had been admitted to United Hospital in Gulshan on March 1 after being diagnosed with pneumonia.

Doctors have recommended that he remain on full rest while continuing limited official responsibilities from home as part of his recovery process.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has directed the launch of an 'e-Health' card to ensure accessible healthcare for citizens. The instruction came during a meeting at the Prime Minister’s Office in Dhaka with the health minister, state minister, advisers, and health experts. According to his additional press secretary Atikur Rahman Rumman, the Prime Minister asked the health ministry to begin implementation immediately and to make health services more active and accessible nationwide.

The meeting also discussed converting abandoned government buildings into health centers under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. The Prime Minister noted that 170 such buildings under the LDED could be repurposed for clinics. Population growth was another topic of concern, with 3.4 million newborns reported annually. The ministry was urged to strengthen population control efforts.

Discussions included recruitment of 100,000 health workers, 80 percent of whom would be women, and filling 74,000 vacant posts in the health sector. The Prime Minister also emphasized ensuring doctors serve in remote areas to improve rural healthcare delivery.

Professor Dr. Ehteshamul Haque, a kidney specialist, explained that fasting during Ramadan may not be safe for patients with elevated serum creatinine levels. He stated that when serum creatinine remains below 3, fasting can be allowed, but if it rises above that level, fasting should be avoided to prevent further kidney deterioration. The risk of dehydration during long fasting hours can worsen kidney weakness and increase creatinine levels.

He recommended that kidney patients who fast should drink adequate water and eat simple foods such as flattened rice, yogurt, and khichuri at iftar. Light meals like roti with chicken curry and fruits such as papaya, wood apple, apple, and pear are suitable, while fried foods should be avoided. Dr. Haque also identified nephritis, diabetes, high blood pressure, and repeated urinary infections as major causes of kidney disease in South Asian countries.

He advised regular serum creatinine and urine tests for those with a family history of kidney disease or chronic conditions like diabetes and hypertension to detect problems early.