Dhaka: Health Minister Sardar Sakhawat Hossain Bakul on Sunday claimed that there was looting in the health sector during the previous ‘fascist’ government. He emphasized the lack of funds for developmental work and the shortage of essential medical supplies, such as gauze, bandages, and syringes at the Upazila Health Complex.
According to United News of Bangladesh, the Health Minister was responding to a query raised by Mohammad Shamim Kaiser, the ruling party MP from Gaibandha-4 constituency, regarding the upgrading of Gobindaganj Upazila Hospital in Gaibandha district to 100 beds. The Minister highlighted the mismanagement and the absence of developmental progress in ongoing projects, attributing it to the previous government’s poor planning and financial misconduct.
The Health Minister criticized the construction plans of the 250-bed hospitals, which included impractical design choices like placing bathrooms near entrances, causing inconvenience due to foul odors. He accused the previous government of rushing infrastructure projects with inadequate plans to facilitate financial gains, resulting in widespread looting.
Minister Bakul further outlined the dire financial situation, stating that the government currently lacks the funds needed for developmental work in the health sector. He expressed concern over depleted resources and noted that even supplies available during the previous caretaker government have been exhausted. He mentioned discussing these issues with the Prime Minister multiple times.
Looking ahead, the Health Minister assured that after the next budget, the government would take necessary steps to deliver health services across all upazilas, leveraging limited resources in a phased manner.