Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday (October 16, 2023) asked the officials concerned to make sure that developments projects don’t impede the free flow of  water bodies, including rivers and canals. “We have to ensure the uninterrupted flow of rivers. Keeping that in mind, we have to carry out our projects and development activities,” she said. The prime minister said this while inaugurating various projects under the ministries of water resources and health. She joined the programme from her official residence, Ganabhaban, through video link. She said that in the name of development it is often seen that all water bodies are filled up. “I think that this is very fulsome. All have to take step to save the water resources whenever any project is taken up or implemented,” she stressed. Hasina also put importance on preserving water during the monsoon season. She put emphasis on continuous capital dredging and maintenance dredging whichever is needed for the water bodies. Read more: Bangladesh is a role model to least development countries: Shahab Uddin The PM also said that the natural flow of the rivers, canals, beels (lake-like wetland) and other water bodies must not be hindered during implementation of any development project. She asked the relevant authorities to ensure having at least one water reservoir in every development project. Mentioning water as the biggest resource for the country, she said that all water bodies must have to be protected. “The nature will flow by its own course, and we have to take steps to save our resources going with that flow,” she said. Read more: Development should prioritise environmental protection over environmental damage: Dr Hossain Zillur Health and Family Welfare Minister Zahid Maleque and State Minister for Water Resources Ministry Zaheed Farooque also spoke at the programme.

The Cabinet Committee on Public Purchase on Thursday gave final approval to a proposal of the Health and Family Welfare Ministry to procure 1.5 crore Chinese Sinopharm Covid-19 vaccine. As per the approval, the Health Services Division of the Health and Family Welfare Ministry will procure a total of 15 million (1.5 crore) vaccine  in the next three months—June, July and August. Read: Process to procure vaccine from China at final stage: FM Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal presided over the Cabinet body meeting.  “Each month 5 million doses of vaccine will be imported from the Chinese firm”, Dr Shahida Aktar, additional secretary to the Cabinet Division, told reporters while briefing on the outcomes of the cabinet body meeting. Earlier on May 19, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) gave its “in principle approval” to a proposal of the Health Services Division to import Sinopharm Covid-19 vaccine. Read: Bangladesh begins administering 1st dose of Chinese vaccine The CCEA also approved “in principle” procurement of Covid-19 vaccine from Russia in a meeting on April 28. But no specific proposal regarding the quantity and the cost of the Russian Sputnik-V is yet to come to the Cabinet Committee on Public Purchase, which is responsible for giving the final approval.

Public Relation Officer (PRO) of Health and Family Welfare Ministry Maidul Islam was found infected by coronavirus or Covid-19.

The Industries Ministry on Wednesday stated that considering the country’s national economy, the production, supply, marketing, and sale of tobacco products should continue.

No unauthorised kits can be used for coronavirus test, said the Health and Family Welfare Ministry on Saturday.   Md Habibur Rahman Khan, additional secretary to the Health Services Division and convener of the media cell formed by the ministry, came up with the information while replying to a query from reporters about unauthorised kits available in the market during a briefing.   “No coronavirus testing kits without government’s approval will be accepted,” he said, adding that coronavirus test is being conducted under government arrangement only with approved kits following the instructions of the World Health Organization (WHO).   The government is working as per the WHO directives over rapid testing kits, the media cell chief said.   A number of 44 officials of the Health Ministry are monitoring the health services in all hospitals of the country to prevent the coronavirus, he said.   The government is also working to appoint another 2,000 doctors and 6,000 nurses, Habibur said, adding that two separate vehicles are there in every district for using in coronavirus testing process.   Meanwhile, Dr Zafrullah Chowdhury, one of the founders of Gonoshasthaya Kendra, on Saturday said they will hand over their coronavirus testing kits to the government formally on Sunday.   However, a representative of the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, (BSMMU) received some testing kits on Saturday from Gonoshasthaya Kendra’s Dhanmondi office.   Gonoshasthaya Kendra has developed an “easy, effective and cheap” method to test coronavirus or Covid-19.

There are around 15 lakh cancer patients in Bangladesh with 1.5 lakh of them dying each year, said an expert here on Tuesday.