State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Anindya Islam Amit has announced steps to reopen the Jashore children’s hospital on a larger scale.
He made the announcement on Friday, Aug 14, as chief guest at the annual exhibition organised by the S M Sultan Fine Art College in Jashore to mark the 103rd birthday of the internationally renowned painter S M Sultan.
Amit said his late father, Tarikul Islam, had started the hospital through former prime minister Begum Khaleda Zia, but that it had lain derelict for a long time.
Construction of a 500-bed hospital at Jashore Medical College has already begun, he said, along with work to bring the Jashore coronary care unit to full capacity. It would be completed shortly and inaugurated by Prime Minister Tareque Rahman. Once the coronary care unit opens, steps would be taken to reopen the Jashore children’s hospital on a larger scale.
He also said Sheikh Hasina had become authoritarian through a series of arrangements, and that a large section of those now speaking against her had helped her do so.
Everyone had to remain alert now that a journey towards establishing democracy at every level of society had begun under Prime Minister Tareque Rahman, the state minister said, arguing that some spoke of democracy while harbouring authoritarian instincts and would strike again given the chance.
The state minister also said that if the government had scope to allot land to the S M Sultan Fine Art College at a nominal price, it would do so.
District BNP president Advocate Syed Saberul Haque Sabu, general secretary and Zila Parishad administrator Delwar Hossain Khokon, and Jashore Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Mizanur Rahman Khan spoke as special guests.
S M Sultan Fine Art College principal Shamim Iqbal presided.
Also present were district BNP organising secretary engineer Rabiul Islam, A K Sharfuddaula Chotlu, city BNP general secretary Ehsanul Haque Setu and Sadar upazila BNP general secretary Anjurul Haque Khokon, among others.
Fifty works by teachers and students of the S M Sultan Fine Art College are on show in the three-day exhibition.
বাংলায় মূল প্রতিবেদন পড়ুন · Read the original Bengali report