Health Minister Mohammad Nasim has said the Awami League believes in politics of development, but not in facing any threat of movement.
“So, we don’t bother with the threats of movements made by the BNP-led 20-party alliance as the people are not with them,” Nasim, also an Awami League presidium member, said while speaking to reporters yesterday.
“They [BNP] have made a mistake in boycotting the January 5 polls and have to pay the price for their mistake,” he said.
Referring the broadcast policy, the health minister claimed that the policy had been announced to save “honest” journalists.
Nasim who arrived in Barisal yesterday morning unveiled the plaque of the foundation stone of a 200-bed children’s hospital in Amanatganj area.
The minister also unveiled the plaque of the foundation stone of the divisional health and family planning office in the area.
Later, he exchanged views with the officials and employees of the family welfare department at the district family planning office. Health Secretary SM Niazuddin and Director General of Family Welfare Directorate Nur Hossain Talukdar were present.
He also visited Barisal Sher-e-Bangla Medical College and Hospital and talked with the patients and medical students.
The minister held talks with the officials at Barisal Circuit House in the afternoon and addressed a public meeting organised by the ruling party at Ashwini Kumar Hall for the National Mourning Day.
Abul Hasanat Abdullah, district AL president and lawmaker, Advocate Talukdar Md Yunus, district AL secretary and lawmaker, Jebunnesa Afroj, AL lawmaker, and Saidur Rahman Rintu, chairman of Sadar Upazila Parishad accompanied the minister during his visit.
BCL men clash during minister’s visit
The activists of Bangladesh Chhatra League, the student wing of the Awami League, clashed with each other during the health minister’s visit yesterday.
Ripon, a BCL activist, was injured in the clash and treated at a local clinic.
Witnesses said BCL activists, riding on motorcycles, were moving towards Kalibari Road to attend a discussion.
On the way, a BCL man, Shihabuddin, hit Ripon’s motorcycle with his own.
When Shihab was charged about it, he assaulted Ripon, resulting in the clash between the BCL activists in the veranda of the district family welfare office.
The police immediately controlled the situation, said Sakhawat Hossain, officer-in-charge of Kotwali police station.
During the minister’s visit, healthcare services of different departments and wards of SBMCH were reportedly hampered since doctors, technicians and nurses were busy participating in the programs, witnesses said.
Dr Qamrul Hasan Selim, director of SBMCH, said he had yet to receive any complaints about doctors neglecting their duties. “The authority will take action against those who will be found to have neglected their duty,” the director added.
