Prime Minister Tarique Rahman made a surprise visit to the Kuwait-Bangladesh Friendship Government Hospital in the capital. He expressed displeasure at the hospital’s overall management and cleanliness.
The hospital was given seven days to improve its environment and cleaning arrangements.
On Saturday morning (17 October) the prime minister made surprise visits to several hospitals, educational institutions and government buildings in the capital to see for himself the dengue situation, the quality of treatment and cleaning work. At the Kuwait-Bangladesh Friendship Government Hospital he spoke to patients and asked about their treatment. He also toured several departments, including the intensive care unit (ICU) and the operating theatre.
The prime minister then went to Rajuk Uttara Model College, where he met teachers and students as well as BNCC and scout members. He spoke about the spread of dengue, ways to prevent it and the role students can play in keeping the surroundings clean. Prime Minister Tarique Rahman said dengue spreads at this time of year, especially until November. Many people are infected every year and many die.
“The most effective way to deal with this is prevention. And to ensure prevention we have to keep our surroundings clean,” he said. Addressing the students, he said: “The best way to fight dengue is prevention. For that we have to keep our surroundings clean. I want your help with this work.”
He said that if the country’s large number of young people took responsibility for keeping their own surroundings clean, a big change was possible in preventing dengue and protecting the environment. Students should play a responsible role from where they stand, he said.
Describing the cleanliness of the capital, the prime minister said Dhaka is a huge city, home to more than 20 to 25 million people. The city corporations’ cleaners work regularly, but their capacity is limited. So the city cannot be kept clean by relying on the city corporations or the administration alone. Every citizen has to take on their own responsibility, he said.
Reminding the students of their duty as citizens, the prime minister said: “Whether or not you are members of the scouts, the Girl Guides or the Red Crescent, you are all citizens of this country. You are the country’s future. So you too must take responsibility for keeping your homes, schools, neighbourhoods and surroundings clean.”
বাংলায় মূল প্রতিবেদন পড়ুন · Read the original Bengali report