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.

A man named Enayetul Karim, aged 50, died of heatstroke on Thursday morning, March 26, at the Sundail Asma Latifa Filling Station in Kaharole upazila of Dinajpur. He had stopped at the station to refuel his motorcycle while returning home from his in-laws’ house in Ichail village under Thargram union. Witnesses said he collapsed while waiting in line under the sun and was taken to Kaharole Upazila Health Complex, where doctors declared him dead.

Police confirmed that Enayetul Karim, a farmer from Satore village in Birganj upazila, became ill while standing in line for fuel. His body was handed over to his family as there was no complaint regarding the incident.

The incident highlights the potential health risks of prolonged exposure to heat while waiting outdoors, particularly during hot weather conditions in the region.

The Directorate General of Health Services conducted a mobile court operation in Dhaka’s Chankharpul area on Wednesday, shutting down several private hospitals and diagnostic centers for irregularities. Ahmad Specialized Hospital was ordered to close its operations except for ICU and emergency services. The 50-bed Authentic Hospital and Active Blood Bank were also closed, while Prime TG Hospital’s blood bank was sealed and fined 60,000 taka. Health Aid Diagnostic Center was fined 100,000 taka and its operations suspended. One broker was detained during the operation.

Officials found that Ahmad Specialized Hospital kept its generator and oxygen cylinders in the same place and lacked emergency and post-operative rooms. Active Blood Bank and the diagnostic center were accused of operating without valid licenses and without specialist doctors for transfusion. The Health Directorate stated that such drives will continue to improve healthcare quality and ensure compliance among private institutions.

The authority emphasized that hospitals and blood banks without valid or renewed licenses will face closure as part of ongoing enforcement actions.

Social Welfare Minister Dr. A Z M Zahid Hossain has stated that BNP leader and adviser Mirza Abbas’s health condition is improving. Speaking to the media on Monday, March 23, he said doctors have reported positive signs in various parameters, indicating gradual recovery. He added that as the issue involves the brain, full recovery will take time, and he requested prayers for Abbas.

Mirza Abbas is currently undergoing treatment under close medical supervision at Singapore General Hospital. His personal secretary Mizanur Rahman Sohel, who is also in Singapore, said doctors helped Abbas sit up in a chair around 10 a.m. on Monday, which they consider a positive development. Abbas has started speaking slowly. His wife Afroza Abbas and son Yasir Abbas are staying by his side at the hospital.

Earlier, on March 15, Mirza Abbas was flown from Dhaka to Singapore by air ambulance for advanced medical treatment.

State Minister for Health Dr. M A Muhit conducted a surprise inspection of the South Surma Upazila Health Complex in Sylhet on March 24, 2026, through a video call from the Secretariat in Dhaka. During the call, he spoke with patients about the quality of medical services and the availability of government medicines. He also reviewed the hospital’s attendance register live on video to verify which doctors were present on duty.

The minister praised the doctors and staff after learning about their presence and the patients’ satisfaction. He emphasized that under the direction of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, the government is working tirelessly to ensure quality healthcare for every citizen. He urged doctors to maintain a service-oriented mindset and to build public trust to help create a “Healthy Bangladesh.”

A day earlier, on March 23, Dr. Muhit had similarly inspected the Zakiganj Upazila Hospital via video call, where he found one of four doctors absent and ordered an inquiry. He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to providing world-class healthcare and reiterated plans to introduce a national health card for all citizens.

On World Tuberculosis Day, observed on March 24, a report highlighted that 21 percent of tuberculosis (TB) patients in Bangladesh remain undiagnosed. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the country has an estimated 379,000 TB patients, while the National Tuberculosis Control Program identified 301,564 cases last year. Experts warn that untreated patients continue to spread the infection, increasing the risk of new cases.

Program data show that 56 percent of identified patients were men and 42 percent were women, with an average of 826 new cases and 19 deaths reported daily. WHO figures, however, suggest a higher daily death toll. The Global Tuberculosis Report 2023 ranks Bangladesh seventh worldwide for TB burden, with 42,000 deaths recorded in 2022.

Globally, around 10.6 million people have contracted TB in recent years, affecting men, women, and children across regions. World Tuberculosis Day commemorates Robert Koch’s 1882 discovery of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the bacterium responsible for the disease.

Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md. Sakhawat Hossain Bakul announced that unauthorized and substandard hospitals and clinics will no longer be allowed to operate in Bangladesh. He made the statement on Tuesday morning at the Secretariat, the first working day after the Eid holidays. The minister said Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has given strict directives to ensure quality healthcare, and a zero-tolerance policy will be applied against clinic owners involved in irregularities.

He added that this year’s Eid-ul-Fitr was celebrated peacefully and comfortably, marking one of the most pleasant holidays in the past one and a half decades. Prices of essential goods remained stable, and law and order were fully under control, allowing people to celebrate without disruption. However, he acknowledged a few unfortunate road accidents and isolated complaints of overcharging on trains and buses.

The minister described the overall Eid journey and celebrations as successful, emphasizing the government’s commitment to maintaining discipline and quality in both healthcare and public services.

Bangladesh Health Minister Sardar Sakhawat Hossain Bokul has ordered the closure of Doctors Care Hospital and Diagnostic in Shyamoli, Dhaka, following allegations of serious irregularities. The directive came after his visit to the hospital on Monday afternoon, two days after Eid. The minister announced that from Tuesday, inspection drives will begin across private clinics, hospitals, and diagnostic centers, starting from Shyamoli to Asadgate and later expanding nationwide.

The action follows a television report revealing that unqualified individuals, including brokers and clinic staff, were performing surgeries at the hospital. During his visit, the minister spoke with patients, relatives, and alleged victims who gathered to share complaints. He instructed that patients under treatment be transferred to other hospitals, including Pangu, Shishu, and Shaheed Suhrawardy hospitals.

Health officials said the upcoming inspection campaign aims not to shut down institutions but to ensure proper healthcare services. Facilities found with irregularities will be given 72 hours to one week to improve; otherwise, they will face closure.

Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md. Sakhawat Hossain announced that under the leadership of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, distribution of health cards and agricultural cards will begin in the last week of June 2026 as part of a pilot project. He made the announcement on Wednesday afternoon while addressing a humanitarian aid distribution event organized by the Belabo Upazila administration in Narsingdi, marking Eid-ul-Fitr 2026. The minister also stated that the government has started providing honorariums to imams, muezzins, temple priests, and other religious service holders.

During his speech, the minister said that farmers’ agricultural loans up to 10,000 taka have been waived with interest by the prime minister. He urged citizens not to pay any bribes for government services and to report any such demands directly to him. He further pledged to make his constituency Belabo-Monohardi free from drugs and corruption and to gradually eliminate these issues nationwide.

At the event, 193 underprivileged people from eight unions of Belabo Upazila received 2,000 taka each, totaling 386,000 taka, from the Prime Minister’s Relief and Welfare Fund.