Dhaka, Aug 3 (UNB) – BNP on Saturday demanded the government give necessary subsidy to public and private hospitals to provide free treatment to dengue patients.

“We propose the government to provider necessary subsidy for the treatment of dengue patients and take steps for ensuring free dengue tests,” said BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir.

Fakhrul made the demand while talking to reporters after a meeting of BNP standing committee members at its chairperson’s Gulshan office.

He said the government gives different people of their choice finical assistance from the Prime Minister’s Relief Fund. “But we think it’s now imperative to spend money from the fund for people when they’re now in danger.  The government should raise more money for the fund and ensure free treatment for the dengue patients.”

The BNP leader also suggested using the community centres in the capital city for the treatment of dengue as the hospitals are finding it difficult to accommodate huge dengue patients due to a serious outbreak of the mosquito-borne disease.

He said their party has decided to set up a medical camp of specialised doctors at its Nayapaltan central office with the help of Doctors Association of Bangladesh (DAB) to advise dengue patients online.

Fakhrul said the government should strengthen its monitoring and take necessary urgent steps to tackle the worsening dengue situation.

He said the government has completely failed to face the dengue situation while the health minister and the two city corporation mayors have created a chaotic situation with their irresponsible remarks and attitude.

The BNP leader said the dengue situation has turned acute since it spread to 64 districts. “The government couldn’t take necessary effective steps to control the menace. They couldn’t import effective insecticide for eliminating mosquito.”

About the flood, he said DAB teams under the leadership of their party’s central relief committee will give treatment and medicines in the flood-hit areas.

Besides, Fakhrul said they have formed a committee, led by party vice chairman Abdul Awal Mintoo, to help flood-hit farmers.

Asked about the media report that their chairperson may go to Saudi Arabia on parole, the BNP leader said he has no idea about it. “We’ve not so far taken any step for her parole. We neither send any letter to this end nor talk to anybody about it.”

He said they will resume holding their party’s divisional rallies after the Eid-ul-Azha to intensify their movement for having Khaleda freed from jail.

BNP standing committee members Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, Jamiruddin Sircar, Gayeshwar Chandra Roy, Dr Abdul Moyeen Khan, Nazrul Islam Khan, Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury, Selima Rahman and Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku were present at the meeting.

Dhaka, Aug 3 (UNB) – Awami League on Saturday formed a central monitoring cell comprising physicians to implement effective steps to control dengue and ensure optimum medical treatment to those affected by the mosquito-borne disease.

The monitoring cell was formed with Dr Mustafa Jalal Mohiuddin as its convener. It was constituted at a meeting between AL leaders and expert physicians at AL President’s Dhanmondi office in the city.

A five-point programme was taken for implementation by the central monitoring cell.  

Health Minister Zahid Maleque visits the patients after opening a 100-bed unit at Mitford Hospital in Dhaka on Thursday, Aug 1, 2019. Photo: PID

The programmes include formation of 64 district monitoring cells, creating public awareness, encouraging physicians, nurses and other health workers and arranging necessary logistic support through coordination with the government, and ensuring necessary number of physicians, nurses and health workers in every district.

AL General Secretary and Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader presided over by the meeting, while AL Advisory Council Members Md Rashidul Alam and Mukul Bose as well as doctor leaders were present.

Obaidul Quader speaks at a rally organised to raise awareness about dengue prevention in Dhaka’s Farmgate area. Photo source: Obaidul Quader's Facebook page

The other members of the central monitoring cell are Dr Rokyea Sultana, Dr Badiuzzaman Bhuiyan (Dablu), Dr M Iqbal Arsenal, Dr Kanak Kanti Barua, Dr Mohammad Moniruzzaman Bhuiyan, Dr Md Ihteshamul Haque Chowhdury, Dr MA Aziz, Dr Sharfuddin Ahmed, Dr Mohammad Jamal Uddin Chowdhury, Dr Kamrul Hasan Khan, Dr MA Rouf Sardar, Dr ABM Abdullah, Dr Md Kamrul Hasan (Milon), Dr Uttam Kumar Barua, Dr Khan Abul Kalam Azad, Dr Zilan Miah Sarkar, Dr Shahana Akter Rahman, Dr Ehsanul Kabir Jaglul, Dr Ali Asgar Moral, Dr Md Zulfiqar Ali (Lenin) and Dr Syed Atiqul Haque, said a press release.

Dhaka, Aug 3 (UNB) - BNP senior leader Gayeshwar Chandra Roy on Saturday alleged that the current government is more dangerous than dengue as it has involvement with many incidents of killing, enforced disappearance and repression on women.

“The death toll in dengue is much lower than the number of people who’ve been killed, made enforced disappearance and number of women who have been repressed by the government. So, this government is terrible than dengue,” he said.

Speaking at a discussion, the BNP leader further said, “Dengue will be controlled at one stage with united efforts of all. But we should think how we’ll be organised to save people from those who’re involved with the incidents of murder, enforced disappearance, oppression on women and child abduction.”

Gayeshwar, a BNP standing committee member, came up with the remarks while speaking at a seminar arranged by Jatiya Manobadhikar Andolon at the Jatiya Press Club.

Describing dengue as a national crisis, he said a coordinated effort is necessary to overcome it.

He also said ades mosquitos can bite anyone if they get chance as they do not know who belongs to Awami League or BNP. “So, this problem should be resolved through united efforts.”

He criticised the two Dhaka city corporations for what he said their failure to tackle mosquito menace due to the import of adulterated insecticide through corruption.

The BNP leader said the dengue situation could not have taken such an alarming turn had the city corporations carried out anti-mosquito drives properly.

Gayeshwar said the remarks of the ministers indicate that the government is not in a good shape. ”The Prime Minister has long been receiving treatment in London. It seems the PM’s condition is worse than the country’s one. Had she been in good position she would have returned home cutting short her trip since people were dying of dengue and facing flood.”

He also wished early recovery of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. “She (PM) is suffering from eye problem. We pray to God so that she can see and hear properly. If her eyesight improves, she’ll be able to realise the language of people’s eyes. If her hearing improves, she can hear people’s screams.“

The BNP leader said their party chairperson Khaleda Zia will not be freed unless a strong movement can be initiated as political leaders are usually released through a political movement. “Since our leader (Khaleda) has been in jail, we couldn’t wage any such movement that the government would be forced to release her.”

Dhaka, Aug 3 (UNB) – Accusing the government of politicising the judiciary and administration, BNP on Saturday said now people have nowhere to go to seek justice.

“They (govt) have taken the judiciary under their control. The way the administration has been reshaped with Chhatra League and Jubo League people, the same way they’re being recruited there (judiciary),” said BNP senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi.

He came up with the allegation while speaking at a rally brought by Jatiyatabadi Muktijoddha Dal in front of BNP’s Nayapaltan central office, demanding the release of party chairperson Khaleda Zia.

The BNP leader said the entire nation has got frustrated as the High Court rejected Khaleda’s bail petition in Zia Charitable Trust corruption case. “The High Court is a place of people’s hopes and aspirations. But it turned down the bail petition. Where will we go? Where is our place of shelter?

He urged people, including freedom fighters, to get united to get rid of the current situation and restore democracy in the country.

About the dengue outbreak, Rizvi alleged that the situation is gradually worsening due to the government’s failure to tackle it with effective measures. “People are saying the Prime Minister is staying in London so that she is not affected with dengue. The Health Minister also took his wife to Malaysia as they’re only thinking of saving themselves.”

He also said the government has no concern for people, no matter whether they die of dengue or they are washed away by flood, as it was not elected with people’s votes. “The government which is formed through a nighttime election can’t have any responsibility for people.”

The BNP leader said the government is pushing people towards a death trap as it has no accountability. “People are getting killed in the incidents of flood, fire, road accidents, mass beating and crossfire. People are also being stabbed to death in broad daylight and killed after rape,” he added.

Kurigram, Aug 3 (UNB) – Jatiya Party Chairman GM Quader on Saturday said the government has utterly failed to tackle dengue, the mosquito-borne disease which has spread across the country.

He said this while distributing relief goods among flood victims at Pachgachi College in Kurigram Sadar Upazila.

The Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) on Friday said 1,687 new patients were hospitalised across the country in the last 24 hours until that morning. Of them, 996 cases were reported from Dhaka alone.

Thirty-eight patients were admitted to hospitals in Rangpur Division.

Official data showed that 21,235 people were hospitalised with dengue since January 1. Of them, 18,842 patients were admitted to hospitals since July 2. So far, 14,639 people were discharged from hospitals.

Quader, who became the party chairman after the death of his brother and former military dictator HM Ershad last month, said: “There’s competition but no conflict in the Jatiya Party.”

Jatiya Party Secretary General Mashiur Rahman Ranga, adviser AKM Mostafizur Rahman Mostak, major (retd) Asafudullah, Vice-Chairman Adelur Rahman Adel, Ponir Uddin Ahmed, MA Razzak Khan, among others were present.