Health Minister Sardar Sakhawat Hossain Bokul told Parliament on Sunday that there are no funds available for development work in the health sector, and even upazila health complexes lack sufficient money to buy basic items such as gauze, bandages, and syringes. He made the remarks while responding to a notice from ruling party MP Mohammad Shamim Kayser regarding the upgrade of Gobindaganj Upazila Hospital in Gaibandha district.

The minister alleged that widespread corruption and mismanagement during the previous fascist government had drained the health sector’s resources. He said that ongoing projects were left incomplete and poorly planned, citing examples of hospital buildings where entrances were placed next to bathrooms due to faulty designs made in haste for profit. He added that even the caretaker government’s remaining resources had been exhausted.

Bokul stated that he had discussed the situation with the Prime Minister several times and that after the next budget, the ministry would gradually work to restore basic healthcare services within limited resources across all upazilas.

Bangladesh’s Health Minister Sardar Shakhawat Hossain Bakul has said that measles vaccines have not been administered in the country for the past eight years. He made the statement amid a rise in measles cases, announcing that the government has allocated 6.04 billion taka to purchase new vaccines. The minister spoke to reporters on Sunday at the inauguration of the International Pharmaceutical Industry Fair at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Center.

According to the minister, the last government-administered measles vaccination took place eight years ago, and since then no new doses were provided. He said the purchase committee has approved the allocation, and vaccines will be collected and distributed in due time. Measles cases have recently increased, with infections detected in Rohingya camps in Cox’s Bazar in early January and later spreading to slum areas in Dhaka.

Following reports of child deaths due to lack of ICU space at Rajshahi Medical College Hospital, the government received five donated ventilators. The minister added that more than 12 additional ventilators will soon be supplied to support the Health and Family Welfare Ministry’s efforts against the outbreak.

Health Minister Sardar Md. Sakhawat Hossain stated that the government is making maximum efforts to prevent corruption in the health sector. He made the remarks on Sunday afternoon after inaugurating the 17th Asia Pharma Expo at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Exhibition Center in Purbachal, Dhaka. The minister said new crises are emerging and instructions have been given to address them promptly.

He mentioned that the government is taking swift steps to resolve the ventilator shortage at Rajshahi Medical College Hospital, where five ventilators have been arranged privately and four will be sent to Rajshahi. Due to the rise in measles cases, ICU facilities have been prepared at the Children’s Hospital, Dhaka Medical College, and DNCC Dedicated Hospital. The minister expressed sorrow over the deaths of 33 children in Rajshahi Medical College Hospital within 11 days due to lack of ventilation.

He added that a vaccination campaign is being considered to cover children who have not yet received measles vaccines. The government has allocated Tk 604 crore for this purpose and plans to launch a nationwide campaign once vaccine procurement is complete.

At Rajshahi Medical College Hospital in Bangladesh, 62 children have died over the past two and a half months amid a severe shortage of intensive care unit (ICU) facilities. Of these, 53 children died while waiting for ICU admission and nine after being admitted. Most of the deceased suffered from pneumonia and measles, conditions that doctors say require intensive care when complications arise. The hospital currently has only 12 ICU beds, with a few allocated for children, far below the demand.

The crisis is compounded by overcrowding in the pediatric ward, where multiple children share single beds and some receive treatment on the floor. A 200-bed specialized children’s hospital, built at a cost of about 350 million taka, has remained unused for three years. Local activists and parents have criticized the authorities for failing to operationalize the facility despite repeated child deaths. Hospital officials acknowledge the shortage and cite manpower and equipment constraints.

Health authorities have pledged to strengthen vaccination drives as measles cases rise, while hospital management plans to activate a new 50-bed ICU complex once staffing and equipment issues are resolved.

Bangladeshi physician Dr. Ashrafun Nahar has achieved success in in-vitro maturation (IVM) research aimed at treating infertility among women suffering from polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Her team conducted the study at the Colorado Center for Reproductive Medicine in the United States, and the findings were presented at the American Society for Reproductive Medicine’s annual scientific congress and expo. The research identified the benefits of antioxidant supplementation in oocytes, showing particular promise for PCOS patients.

According to the study, IVM is an advanced assisted reproductive technology that matures immature eggs outside the body, reducing the need for hormone injections compared to IVF. The research involved 15 patients with an average age of 30.5 years, average BMI of 28.5 kg/m², and average anti-Müllerian hormone level of 8.5 ng/mL. The process used minimal hormonal stimulation and avoided human chorionic gonadotropin triggers. Some oocytes were matured with mitoquinone to assess antioxidant effects.

The study reported five live births from the current IVM research and a total of 14 IVM births at the Colorado center, highlighting the potential of this low-risk fertility treatment for PCOS patients.

Bangladesh’s Health Minister Sardar Md. Shakhawat Hossain stated that the country currently has no shortage of helium gas, even though international supply has decreased. He made the remarks on Saturday, March 28, at the ‘CME on Medical Ethics’ event organized by the Society of Surgeons of Bangladesh at Abu Sayeed Convention Center in Dhaka. The minister assured that hospital services, including MRI scans, will not be disrupted due to helium supply issues.

Global helium supply has reportedly fallen by about one-third because of ongoing tensions among the United States, Israel, and Iran. This reduction has placed pressure on industries such as semiconductors and medical imaging worldwide. In response to questions about potential impacts, the minister said that necessary measures have been taken to prevent any negative effects on Bangladesh’s power and health sectors.

The statement aims to reassure the public and medical institutions that Bangladesh’s healthcare operations remain stable despite global market disruptions.

Bangladesh’s State Minister for Health and Family Welfare, Dr. M A Muhit, has issued a stern warning against irregularities in private medical colleges. During a recent visit to his ministry on a holiday afternoon, he reviewed several files and discovered serious violations. In a subsequent video message, he declared that institutions operating without proper authorization from the Bangladesh Medical and Dental Council (BMDC) or lacking essential infrastructure such as hospitals, patients, and qualified staff would not be allowed to continue.

Dr. Muhit criticized colleges functioning like commercial enterprises rather than educational institutions, noting that some lacked their own land or deposit documents. He expressed concern that untrained graduates from such colleges could endanger public health and that parents were being deceived after investing their life savings. He emphasized that every private medical college must maintain a minimum standard of facilities, manpower, and patient availability.

Reiterating the government’s commitment to building a “Bangladesh of rules from irregularities,” the minister vowed to shut down what he described as “factories producing fake doctors.”

Bangladesh Health Minister Sardar Md. Sakhawat Hossain expressed outrage over the deaths of 33 children at Rajshahi Medical College Hospital within 11 days, reportedly due to a lack of ICU ventilators. Speaking at an event on medical ethics in Dhaka’s Shahbagh on Saturday, he said the hospital director failed to inform authorities about the shortage and declared that such negligence was unacceptable.

The minister said the director initially dismissed media reports as exaggerated but later admitted their accuracy after an official report confirmed the situation. Citing bureaucratic delays in government procurement, Hossain said he personally arranged to buy three ventilators through private support and was working to secure two more. He also urged doctors to uphold professional ethics, avoid negligence during surgeries, and maintain responsible behavior toward patients.

Hossain further criticized instances of sexual misconduct by physicians and emphasized the need for continuous learning and training to keep up with global medical advancements.

Bangladesh Medical University (BMU) has launched its first-ever MD program in Emergency Medicine. The program was formally inaugurated on Saturday, March 28, 2026, at the university’s Shaheed Dr. Milton Hall. The keynote paper was presented by Dr. Reza Ali, Associate Professor and Senior Staff Specialist in Emergency Medicine at the University of Western Sydney’s Local Health District in Australia. The event was attended by BMU Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. Md. Shahinul Alam, senior officials from the Directorate General of Health Services and the Directorate of Medical Education, as well as other university leaders and faculty members.

Speakers at the event emphasized that the new program marks a milestone for Bangladesh in developing specialized expertise in emergency healthcare. They noted that newly enrolled doctors will receive training under the guidance of renowned local and international faculty, enabling them to deliver high-quality emergency medical services. The number of students admitted to this program is expected to increase annually.

According to the speakers, the initiative aligns with the government’s commitment to ensuring modern, life-saving emergency medical care through coordinated efforts among the Ministry of Health, the Directorate General of Health Services, and BMU.

The Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) has launched a special mosquito eradication and cleanliness campaign titled “Clean School, No Mosquito” across 536 educational institutions under its jurisdiction. The initiative began on Saturday morning at Dhaka Residential Model School and College, inaugurated by DNCC Administrator Md. Shafiqul Islam Khan. The campaign aims to prevent the breeding of Aedes mosquitoes, which spread dengue, particularly after the long Eid holidays when schools and offices reopen.

DNCC officials stated that the three-day program will cover schools, colleges, and madrasas, focusing on removing and destroying potential mosquito breeding sites. The effort includes larviciding and adulticiding activities in classrooms and surrounding areas. DNCC’s Chief Health Officer Brigadier General Imrul Kayes Chowdhury said the program was designed to ensure student health and address cleanliness gaps created during prolonged school closures.

The campaign also includes awareness activities to educate students about Aedes mosquitoes and dengue prevention, aligning with DNCC’s goal of building a livable, mosquito-free, and odor-free city.

State Minister for Social Welfare Farzana Sharmin has called for greater public awareness and enforcement of existing laws to build a tobacco-free society. Speaking on Friday at a discussion organized by Nari Moitree at the Poet Shamsur Rahman Room of Bangla Academy, she said Bangladesh has more laws than many other countries but citizens must become more conscious to respect and follow them.

Sharmin noted that despite having strict laws, including the death penalty for rape and a tobacco control law enacted in 2005, problems such as tobacco use and drug abuse persist. She emphasized that smoking and drug use lead to serious health risks, including cancer and kidney diseases, and urged young people to reject such habits.

The minister highlighted the role of families in guiding youth away from harmful behaviors and stressed that parents should raise awareness among their children. She described young people as a source of inspiration and learning for society.

Dr. Mohammad Rashed Anwar has been appointed as the new director of the National Institute of Kidney Diseases and Urology (NIKDU) in Bangladesh. The Ministry of Health issued an official notification assigning him the roles of director and professor of nephrology. Prior to this appointment, Dr. Anwar served as an associate professor in the same institution and was promoted to professor based on his professional expertise and long experience.

Born on January 1, 1968, Dr. Anwar earned his MBBS degree from Chittagong Medical College and later completed an MD in nephrology from Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University. Since joining government health service in 2001, he has held several key positions and made significant contributions to kidney disease treatment, dialysis services, and kidney transplantation programs.

He is also active in research, co-authoring several scientific papers on kidney disease, dialysis, and transplantation, and is recognized as a dedicated educator in medical training.

Bangladesh is facing a growing public health challenge as one in four adults, or 23.5 percent, suffers from hypertension, according to the Bangladesh NCD STEPS Survey 2022. The condition is now the country’s leading disease, responsible for a large share of heart-related deaths. The Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics’ 2025 survey found hypertension at the top of the ten most common diseases, while WHO data show that over half of affected adults are unaware of their condition and only 16 percent manage it effectively through regular medication.

The World Health Organization’s 2025 report indicates that 1.4 billion people aged 30–79 worldwide live with hypertension, with most residing in low- and middle-income countries. In Bangladesh, inadequate funding—only 4.2 percent of the health budget goes to noncommunicable disease control—has hindered consistent medicine supply to community clinics. The government has introduced several initiatives, including adding amlodipine to the community clinic medicine list and expanding NCD corners across the country.

Health officials say ensuring uninterrupted drug supply and inter-ministerial cooperation will be crucial to achieving the Sustainable Development Goal of reducing premature deaths from noncommunicable diseases by one-third by 2030.

Imran Hossain, a 23-year-old staff reporter of the newspaper Amar Desh, was seriously injured after being hit by an army bus in Gazipur’s Borobari area on Wednesday. Following the accident, he was taken to Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) but reportedly received minimal treatment before being sent home. His condition worsened on Thursday while resting at his sister’s residence in Shah Ali, prompting his family to take him back to DMCH.

Doctors at DMCH later confirmed that Imran’s shoulder bone was fractured and that he might require urgent surgery. However, hospital staff initially refused to admit him, insisting he return home. After repeated pleas from his family, he was eventually admitted. Family members expressed concern over his excessive bleeding and deteriorating condition. Attempts to contact the hospital director, Brigadier Asaduzzaman, were unsuccessful.

Earlier that morning, two members of the military police visited Imran’s sister’s home to inquire about the incident but left after family objections. Witnesses said the accident occurred when an army bus hit Imran as he was crossing the Dhaka–Mymensingh highway.

A new study has found that potassium plays a vital role in maintaining heart health, yet many people around the world unknowingly suffer from its deficiency. Health experts have warned that improving dietary habits can significantly reduce the risk of major heart diseases. According to the findings, adequate potassium intake can lower the risk of stroke by 20 percent and heart disease by up to 24 percent.

Experts emphasized that populations with high salt consumption are particularly vulnerable to potassium deficiency. They cautioned that millions remain unaware of this hidden shortage, which increases the likelihood of heart attacks, strokes, and other health complications. Poor dietary awareness and the widespread consumption of processed, high-salt foods are worsening the problem.

Professor John Young of Teesside University noted that modern diets are a major cause of declining potassium levels. Potassium supports nerve signaling, muscle contraction, heartbeat regulation, and blood pressure control. Even mild deficiency can cause muscle cramps, constipation, and headaches, while severe cases may lead to confusion, depression, irregular heartbeat, and breathing difficulties if untreated.