Bangladesh’s Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md. Sakhawat Hossain announced that the government will soon recruit 100,000 health workers to address manpower shortages in the health sector. He also stated that ten armed Ansar personnel will be deployed at each upazila-level hospital to ensure doctors’ safety. The minister made these remarks on Wednesday in Dhaka’s Shahbagh after signing a memorandum of understanding to launch a Bangladesh-China joint surgical clinic.

Hossain added that the country currently has a six-month stock of measles vaccines, assuring that there will be no shortage in the coming months. He urged the public not to panic about vaccine availability. The memorandum signed with China aims to establish joint surgical clinics and mobile medical services in Bangladesh.

Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Yao Wen expressed hope that bilateral cooperation in complex surgeries and medical services will reach new heights through this initiative.

Twenty students became ill after eating food provided under the school feeding program at Shankarbati Government Primary School No. 1 in Chapainawabganj municipality on Wednesday afternoon. According to school sources, bread, milk, bananas, and eggs were distributed to students around 11 a.m. as part of the regular program. Shortly after eating, at least 20 students from grades two to four experienced vomiting, severe stomach pain, dizziness, and eye irritation, causing panic across the school.

Teachers provided initial care and separated the sick students, while parents rushed to the school and later took their children to local clinics for treatment. Acting headteacher Shamsunnahar stated that the supplying organization, GAK, had previously been accused of providing low-quality food and that the issue had been reported multiple times without improvement. Attempts to contact the company’s district field officer, Liton Mia, were unsuccessful.

District Primary Education Officer Saiful Islam said a committee has been formed to investigate the incident and that strict action will be taken if negligence is proven.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman expressed strong dissatisfaction in parliament over the failure to import measles vaccines during the periods of autocratic and interim governments. Responding to a question from Jamaat-e-Islami MP Salah Uddin during the parliamentary question session chaired by Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmed, the prime minister said that the lack of vaccine imports over several years had led to the deaths of many children. He added that the government has taken swift measures to address the situation, including efforts to procure measles detection kits.

Salah Uddin raised concerns about the suspension of measles testing facilities in most institutions, including the country’s only infectious disease institute in Chattogram, forcing samples to be sent to Dhaka. In response, the prime minister acknowledged the shortage of testing kits and confirmed that the government is working to resolve it. She noted that UNICEF Bangladesh had provided significant assistance by sending vaccines quickly, enabling the government to plan immunization for about 20 million children.

The prime minister reiterated that the government is taking steps to control the situation and expedite the release of testing kits held in customs.

Dr. Golam Sarwar Liaquat Hossain Bhuiyan, director of the National Institute of Diseases of the Chest and Hospital, has warned that air pollution and smoking are driving a rise in respiratory illnesses across Bangladesh. In an interview published on April 22, 2026, he said that vehicle emissions, brick kilns, industrial pollution, mosquito coils, and sprays are key triggers for asthma, while chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is mainly linked to smoking. He emphasized that persistent cough, chest pain, and breathing difficulties should prompt immediate medical consultation.

The doctor noted that rural areas still face major challenges in diagnosing and treating chest diseases due to shortages of sputum testing and X-ray facilities. He added that Dhaka ranks among the world’s most polluted cities, citing vehicle smoke, construction dust, and unplanned industrialization as major causes. He urged stronger public awareness campaigns to discourage smoking and improve early detection of tuberculosis and other lung diseases.

He also recommended expanding vaccination coverage for pneumonia among older adults to reduce severe outcomes and called for better diagnostic and referral systems in rural healthcare.

Intern doctors at Rajshahi Medical College (RAMEC) Hospital resumed duty on Wednesday morning after a 24-hour work stoppage. The decision was announced at a press briefing held at 9 a.m. in the hospital’s emergency department office, where the interns declared the withdrawal of their protest and return to duty.

The interns stated that the hospital director had agreed to ensure a safe working environment for doctors and to take necessary legal action against those involved in a recent attack on medical staff. Following this assurance, the interns ended their strike and returned to their respective wards. The work stoppage had been called the previous morning to protest the attack and demand workplace safety.

Hospital authorities claimed that patient care was not significantly disrupted during the protest, as mid- and senior-level doctors took on additional responsibilities to maintain services.

The United Kingdom has passed a new law aimed at creating a smoke-free generation by banning the sale of all tobacco products to individuals born after 2008. According to The Guardian, the bill on tobacco and vaping received approval from both houses of Parliament and is awaiting royal assent to become law. Once enacted, it will prohibit the sale of tobacco to anyone born on or after January 1, 2009, gradually phasing out tobacco use nationwide.

The bill was first introduced on November 5, 2024, and completed its legislative journey after the House of Lords approved amendments from the House of Commons. Policymakers expect the measure to break the cycle of addiction and significantly reduce smoking-related health risks. Statistics show that in England alone, smoking leads to about 400,000 hospital admissions and 64,000 deaths annually, costing the National Health Service billions of pounds each year.

Health Secretary Wes Streeting described the bill as a historic step for public health, saying it will protect future generations from addiction and tobacco-related harm while promoting a healthier society.

Two sub-health centers in Raipur upazila of Lakshmipur have been operating without doctors for about 11 to 12 years, depriving local residents of essential healthcare. According to the Raipur Upazila Health Complex office, the centers in Haydarganj Bazar of Char Ababil Union and Saicha village of Bamni Union each have sanctioned doctor posts that remain vacant. Currently, an MBBS doctor visits once a week, while a sub-assistant community medical officer serves patients on other days.

Local union chairmen and residents said the absence of doctors has forced villagers to travel 10 to 12 kilometers to the upazila health complex for even minor ailments, increasing patient pressure on the 50-bed facility. Around 86,000 families, traders, students, and coastal workers depend on these centers, but the lack of doctors has caused severe hardship.

Raipur Upazila Health and Family Planning Officer Dr. Bahrul Alam confirmed that reports on the vacancies are regularly sent to the civil surgeon. He noted that the shortage has significantly increased patient load at the upazila hospital, where 400–500 people visit the outpatient department daily.

An international exhibition on healthcare, medical equipment, surgery, pharmaceuticals, and diagnostics titled Meditex Health Tourism 2026 will begin in Dhaka on May 7. Organized by Conference and Exhibition Management Services (SEMS-Global USA), the event will run until May 9 at the International Convention City Bashundhara (ICCB) from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily. The announcement was made by SEMS-Global USA and Asia Pacific President and Group Managing Director Meherun N. Islam at a press conference.

According to the organizers, the expo will serve as an integrated platform for buyers and sellers in the healthcare sector, promoting international knowledge and technology exchange. It aims to strengthen Bangladesh’s position in the global market and positively impact the country’s healthcare, medical equipment, and health tourism industries. The event will also emphasize access to quality and affordable medical services through reliable doctors and hospitals.

The exhibition will feature the 17th Meditex Bangladesh International Expo, 10th Bangladesh Clinical Lab Expo, 12th Pharma Bangladesh International Expo, and 9th International Health Tourism and Services Expo. Over 90 companies from more than 15 countries will participate, with international seminars planned alongside the exhibitions.

The government has officially changed the name of Shaheed M. Mansur Ali Medical College in Sirajganj to Sirajganj Medical College. The decision was announced on Tuesday through a notification issued by the Health Education and Family Welfare Division under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. The order, issued by the authority of the President, states that the new name takes effect immediately.

According to the notification signed by Md. Kamruzzaman Chowdhury, Secretary of the Health Education and Family Welfare Division, relevant authorities have been instructed to make necessary administrative and academic adjustments following the name change. The directive ensures that all institutional activities align with the new designation.

The renaming marks an official administrative update for the government medical institution in Sirajganj, with immediate implementation across all departments and records.

Two Secondary School Certificate (SSC) candidates in Bhola’s Charfassion fell ill due to extreme heat while taking their exam at the Charfassion Government TB Model Secondary School center. The incident occurred on Tuesday afternoon in room number two of the school’s southern dormitory, where the students, identified as Sanjida and Samia, became sick because there were no fans in the exam room. They were taken to Charfassion Upazila Health Complex for treatment. One student was discharged after primary care, while the other remained under treatment.

Parents of several students expressed anger over the lack of fans in the exam rooms and urged authorities to install them immediately. Acting head teacher Taslima Begum stated that the dormitory rooms have good ventilation through windows and denied that the absence of fans caused illness. Charfassion Upazila Nirbahi Officer Rumana Afroze said arrangements would be made to install fans in rooms where they are missing.

The incident has drawn attention to the inadequate facilities at examination centers during the ongoing heatwave in the region.

The Bangladesh High Commission in the Maldives has taken responsibility for the repatriation of expatriate Bangladeshi worker Minar Hossain, who recently became critically ill. On Monday, April 20, Bangladesh High Commissioner Dr. Mohammad Nazmul Islam handed over an air ticket to facilitate Minar Hossain’s return home. The ticket was provided from the Wage Earners’ Welfare Board fund under the Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment.

During the handover, the High Commissioner wished Minar Hossain a speedy recovery and assured that the High Commission would continue to support Bangladeshi expatriates in the Maldives in any situation. He also emphasized the mission’s commitment to ensuring proper medical care and legal rights for migrant workers.

Minar Hossain, a resident of Matlab South in Chandpur district, had been working in the Maldives for a long time with BMET clearance. He recently suffered a heart stroke and is scheduled to return to Bangladesh on April 24 via a US-Bangla Airlines flight.

Prime Minister’s Information and Broadcasting Affairs Adviser Dr. Zahed Ur Rahman announced that 2,650,039 children received measles vaccinations across Bangladesh between April 5 and April 20, 2026. He shared the update during a press briefing at the Secretariat on Tuesday, noting that the government aims to vaccinate a total of 18 million children under the program.

During the same briefing, Dr. Rahman also reported progress on the government’s canal excavation program, stating that 561 kilometers out of a planned 1,260 kilometers have been completed, marking a 44.55 percent completion rate. He further mentioned that the government is considering organizing a regional New Year celebration next year with neighboring countries such as Myanmar, Cambodia, Vietnam, and parts of India.

Dr. Rahman added that the Prime Minister emphasized more organized cultural events in the future. The government plans to extend Baishakhi festivities throughout the month, aiming to strengthen national identity and cultural diplomacy through regional cooperation.

Medical services at Rajshahi Medical College Hospital were severely disrupted after intern doctors began a 24-hour work stoppage on Tuesday morning. The protest was launched in response to repeated incidents of harassment against interns by patients’ relatives and the alleged lack of visible action against the perpetrators. The strike, which started at 9 a.m., has directly affected patient care across multiple wards.

According to the interns’ organization, three interns were assaulted over two consecutive days, prompting widespread anger and concern among medical staff. The protesting doctors are demanding immediate security measures, punishment for those responsible, and a safer work environment. They have also announced a one-hour human chain demonstration scheduled for Wednesday morning.

Hospital operations have been strained by the absence of interns, who handle a large portion of daily patient care. Other doctors are struggling to manage emergency cases, and routine checkups have slowed. Patients and their families have expressed frustration over the disruption, while observers warn that the situation could worsen if swift action is not taken.

Myanmar’s military junta has expanded its ban on sanitary pads, claiming that resistance fighters use them for medical purposes. Although no official announcement has been made, the restriction is part of a broader strategy known as the “four cuts,” aimed at depriving opposition forces of essential supplies. The ban, which began in some rebel-held areas in August last year, now includes a transport blockade between Mandalay and Sagaing.

Women’s rights group Sisters2Sisters said the military alleges that the People’s Defense Force uses menstrual products to absorb sweat and blood in combat. Health experts, including Meredith Ban of Skills for Humanity, dismissed this claim, noting that sanitary towels are unsuitable for treating wounds. Activists described the policy as misogynistic and harmful, forcing women to rely on unsafe alternatives such as torn cloth or leaves, increasing risks of infections.

As prices for pads have tripled on the black market, many women face severe discomfort and reduced mobility. Observers believe the junta’s actions aim to further restrict women’s participation in public and political life, reflecting a broader pattern of gender-based repression.

Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md. Sakhawat Hossain inaugurated the nationwide measles vaccination campaign on Monday, April 20, 2026, at Little Angel Seminary in Zinda Park, Rupganj, Narayanganj. The program aims to vaccinate about 18 million children across 18 districts, 30 upazilas, and 4 city corporations.

According to the schedule, the first phase of the campaign began on April 5 and will continue until April 25, while the second phase, which started on April 12, will run until May 12. The newly launched nationwide special campaign will continue in city corporation areas until May 20 and in other parts of the country until May 12.

Earlier, on April 5, the measles-rubella vaccination program started in 30 upazilas of 18 districts, followed by a second phase on April 12 in four major city corporations—Dhaka North, Dhaka South, Barishal, and Mymensingh.