Patuakhali‑2 lawmaker Shafiqul Islam Masud told parliament that terming the deaths of six children at Ad‑din Medical College Hospital as “unwanted” and cancelling the hospital’s license raises questions.
He said if a hospital’s license can be revoked over the children’s deaths, then the question may also arise why Health Minister Sardar Md Sakhawat Husain does not resign over the deaths from measles.
Masud was speaking during a session on the proposed budget for 2026-27 fiscal year in the parliament on Thursday.
He described Ad-din hospital as a vital institution for providing medical care to the poor. He sought clarity on what message the government intended to send by closing such an institution.
During the budget discussion, the MP also highlighted the issue of regional development disparity. Masud noted that while travelling to Bhanga in Faridpur gives the impression that Bangladesh has reached the level of a developed country, the scenery changes immediately after crossing Bhanga.
He remarked that beyond that point, it feels as though one has entered a remote village. He urged the government to eliminate this disparity and ensure uniform development across the country.
The lawmaker expressed concern regarding the escalating costs of major government development projects. He cited the additional expenditure incurred in the Padma Bridge project as an example known to the nation.
Masud emphasised that simply announcing large projects is insufficient for budget implementation. He stressed the necessity of ensuring transparency in expenditure, accountability, and balanced development to ensure that the benefits of progress reach ordinary people.
