We Closed the Hospital, Not the Medical College: Health Minister on Ad-din Action

In a firm stance against compromised healthcare services, Health Minister Sardar Md. Sakhawat Husain Bakul clarified that the government’s recent punitive measures against Ad-din Hospital will not disrupt the academic life of its students. Speaking to reporters on Monday morning, the Minister emphasized that while the clinical facility was shut down due to inhumane practices, the affiliated medical college operations remain entirely functional.

"We have closed the hospital, but we did not shut down the medical college," Minister Sakhawat Husain Bakul stated. "The students can complete their clinical practice at other hospitals. The authorities have multiple alternative clinical facilities; they can transition the students there. We were forced to take this harsh step solely because of their inhumane healthcare delivery."

The Minister was speaking to the press following a seminar held at the International Mother Language Institute (IMLI) in the capital to observe World No-Tobacco Day. Issuing a stern warning against institutional malpractice, he added that ensuring patient care remains the government’s core absolute priority, and anyone found guilty of irregularities or medical negligence will face severe legal penalties.

Measles Outbreak Controlled but Fluctuating

Addressing the recent spike in measles cases across various districts, the Health Minister assured that while the numbers show temporary fluctuations, the overall situation remains completely under administrative control.

• Vaccination Benchmarks: The Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) has registered a massive turnout. "Our immunization drive has run with absolute success. We have managed to exceed 100% of our targeted goals nationwide. Leading up to the recent Eid holidays, healthcare workers conducted door-to-door callouts and extensive public miking to ensure no child was left behind," the Minister explained.

• Epidemiological Variations: Commenting on the shifting caseload metrics, he noted, "Measles cannot be eradicated overnight. Two days ago, the recorded case count was at 700, which fluctuated back up to 1,000 yesterday. Furthermore, standard fever cases are often initially misclassified as suspected measles."

• Mortality and Antibody Response: Regarding reported fatalities, the Minister confirmed that suspected deaths remain extremely isolated, fluctuating between 3 to 5 cases. "I will not claim that there are zero fatalities; a few isolated deaths have occurred. However, it takes at least a month for the body to develop sufficient antibodies post-vaccination. Had our doctors, nurses, and emergency measures not been deployed efficiently, the crisis would have turned far worse."

Calls for Stringent Anti-Tobacco Laws

Earlier during the panel discussion, the Health Minister delivered a sharp critique on the systemic hazards of tobacco use, classifying it as a severe physiological dependency that rapidly morphs into a profound social crisis.

"Tobacco usage is a lethal addiction. Smoker dependency systematically disrupts sleep cycles, represses appetite, triggers rapid weight loss, and causes structural damage to almost every major human organ, exponentially escalating the risk of terminal cancer."

— Sardar Md. Sakhawat Husain Bakul, Health Minister

The Minister pointed out that because offenders frequently exploit existing legislative loopholes to bypass compliance, the ministry is actively drafting proposals to introduce significantly more stringent tobacco control regulations.

The high-level advocacy seminar was attended by prominent health administrators, including Health Services Division Secretary Md. Kamruzzaman Chowdhury and the Director General of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), Professor Dr. Prabhat Chandra Biswas, among other medical stakeholders.