Opposition leader and Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Shafiqur Rahman has criticised government funding for measles treatment, saying allocations for the Bangladesh Shishu Hospital and Institute are inadequate amid rising concern over the disease.
Speaking to reporters after visiting the hospital in Dhaka’s Shyamoli today, Shafiqur said the facility’s annual government allocation had been reduced from Tk 30 crore to Tk 28 crore. Of that, only Tk 7 crore has been released in the first quarter, which is insufficient to operate the 700-bed hospital, he said.
He added that 250 beds are designated free of charge, while others require patients to pay. Despite constraints, hospital authorities were trying to manage the pressure, he said. As the country’s only specialised government-supported children’s hospital, it faces a heavy influx of patients from across Bangladesh, with some reportedly unable to access treatment.Shafiqur welcomed the establishment of an intensive care unit for measles patients but called for a significant expansion in capacity, suggesting the hospital be increased to 2,000 beds.
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Shafiqur Rahman criticises measles treatment funding at Shishu Hospital
Questions govt claims on fuel supply, cites shortages and hardship
44 MIN(s) ago
UPDATED 43 MIN(s) ago
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After visiting the Shishu Hospital, Shafiqur Rahman met with the management committee, directors and doctors for an exchange of views. Photo: Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami
After visiting the Shishu Hospital, Shafiqur Rahman met with the management committee, directors and doctors for an exchange of views. Photo: Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami
Opposition leader and Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Shafiqur Rahman has criticised government funding for measles treatment, saying allocations for the Bangladesh Shishu Hospital and Institute are inadequate amid rising concern over the disease.
Speaking to reporters after visiting the hospital in Dhaka’s Shyamoli today, Shafiqur said the facility’s annual government allocation had been reduced from Tk 30 crore to Tk 28 crore. Of that, only Tk 7 crore has been released in the first quarter, which is insufficient to operate the 700-bed hospital, he said.
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He added that 250 beds are designated free of charge, while others require patients to pay. Despite constraints, hospital authorities were trying to manage the pressure, he said. As the country’s only specialised government-supported children’s hospital, it faces a heavy influx of patients from across Bangladesh, with some reportedly unable to access treatment.
Shafiqur welcomed the establishment of an intensive care unit for measles patients but called for a significant expansion in capacity, suggesting the hospital be increased to 2,000 beds.
Later, after visiting a petrol pump in Asadgate, Shafiqur urged the government to disclose accurate information on fuel supplies, saying that delivering false information in the Jatiya Sangsad is “unfortunate and shameful for the nation”.
He said drivers and vehicle owners reported being limited to fuel purchases of around Tk 2,000 per vehicle, while motorcyclists were receiving between Tk 150 and Tk 500.
Citing discussions with petrol pump staff, he said daily fuel deliveries had dropped from three tankers to one, which is insufficient to cover 24 hours of demand.Yet the government claims fuel sales are higher than normal,” he noted.
“When asked how sales could increase with only a third of the supply, officials said the claim was not true. They are selling only what they receive — far less than before,” he added.
He acknowledged that the crisis stemmed from global factors rather than domestic policy. “So why hide the truth? Let us speak openly and work together to find solutions,” he said.
The Jamaat ameer also noted that “incomes of motorcycle-based earners have dropped from around Tk 1,500 to Tk 500–600, while living costs have risen due to higher transport fares and increased extortion.”
Addressing the government, he questioned its moral authority to govern if it fails to ensure the safety of citizens.
