RAJBARI, July 20, 2026 (BSS) - State Minister for Culture Ali Nowaz Mahmud Khaiyam today warned that no corruption, negligence or mismanagement would be tolerated in the healthcare system, urging doctors to provide treatment with greater dedication and maintain a friendly attitude toward the patients. The minister made the remarks while addressing a meeting of the management committee of Rajbari Sadar Hospital here this afternoon. He said the people of the district had long been deprived of quality healthcare services. Alleging widespread irregularities during the previous government, he said the public funds allocated for healthcare had been misappropriated through fraudulent documentation instead of being used to procure furniture, life-saving medicines and medical equipment. The state minister said that the present government had undertaken far-reaching reforms in the country's healthcare sector. Rajbari Sadar Hospital has been upgraded from a 100-bed to a 250-bed facility, while a 250-bed medical college hospital in the district is expected to become operational soon.  He added that procurement of furniture worth Taka 100 million has already been initiated. Khaiyam stressed the need to ensure quality in the procurement of furniture for the expanded 250-bed hospital infrastructure. He also called for making the hospital free from the influence of brokers and middlemen, saying assistance from the district police would be sought if necessary. He directed the hospital authorities to ensure an adequate stock of life-saving medicines so that underprivileged patients receive the treatment they need. He also instructed the officials to take steps to introduce a 10-bed isolation unit and an intensive care unit (ICU). Highlighting the importance of infection prevention and cleanliness, the state minister emphasized proper waste management and maintaining a clean hospital environment.  He also instructed authorities to renovate the hospital, develop landscaped gardens and construct a motorcycle parking facility to improve the overall environment for the patients and visitors. Khaoyam further said the value of hospital tickets must not be increased under any circumstances. Nursing supervisors and other staff members were instructed to treat patients with courtesy and compassion, while ensuring adequate security within the hospital premises, he added.  The meeting was informed that only 26 of the hospital's approved 67 posts for physicians are currently filled, leaving 31 positions vacant. He assured that the vacant posts would be filled. He also noted that the absence of specialists, including cardiac and ophthalmic surgeons, medical officers and senior consultants in several departments and assured of extending all possible support to address the shortages.  

CHATTOGRAM, July 20, 2026 (BSS)- A court in Chattogram has sentenced life  sentences on two drug traffickers following the seizure of around 10,000 yaba  tablets in the Patenga Police Station area of the city in 2022.  The verdict was delivered by the Fourth Additional Chattogram Metropolitan  Sessions Judge, Afroza Jasmine Koli, on Monday. The convicted individuals are Md. Arif, 29, from the Paschim Kokdandi area of  Banshkhali upazila and Md. Maruf, 23, from the Ilsha area of the same  upazila.  According to court bench assistant Nayeem Hossain, the evidence presented by  six witnesses substantiated the charges in the yaba case, leading to the life  sentences for Md. Arif and Md. Maruf.  Additionally, they were fined Taka 10,000, in default, to suffer three-month  more in jail. The case records indicate that on August 19, 2022, a temporary checkpoint was  set up on the Outer Ring Road near the Muslimabad intersection of Patenga  Police Station.   During this operation, a Super GL microbus traveling from Faujdarhat towards  Patenga Beach was signaled to stop, but the two occupants attempted to flee.  They were later arrested. Following their arrest, authorities recovered 9,635  contraband yaba tablets, 15 grams of yaba powder, and the microbus used for  transporting the drugs which was concealed in a shopping bag under the  driver's seat.  RAB-7 Police Inspector (City and Vehicles) Md. Zahirul Islam initiated a case  under the Narcotics Control Act at the Patenga Model Police Station as the  plaintiff.