United News of Bangladesh

A five-day international medical mission on Saturday began in Dhaka to provide free reconstructive surgeries to around 100 children with cleft lip and cleft palate from economically disadvantaged families. Md. Ismail Zabihullah, Adviser to the Ministry of Public Administration, inaugurated the mission at Sarkari Karmachari Hospital as the chief guest. Organised by SAJIDA Foundation in partnership with Sarkari Karmachari Hospital, Smile Asia and Dhaka Bank PLC, the initiative has brought together an international team of volunteer healthcare professionals and Bangladeshi physicians to provide specialised, quality and free reconstructive surgeries for children coming from across Bangladesh. Senior government officials, healthcare leaders, development partners, corporate representatives and members of the international medical community joined the event to reaffirm a shared commitment to expanding access to specialised reconstructive healthcare for children. Among the guests were Md. Ehsanul Hoque, Senior Secretary, Ministry of Public Administration; Md. Kamruzzaman Chowdhury, Secretary, Health Services Division; Md. A. Razzak Sarkar, Director General, Government Employees Hospital; Md. Fazlul Hoque, Deputy Chief Executive Officer of SAJIDA Foundation; Osman Ershad Faiz, Managing Director of Dhaka Bank PLC; and Abhimanyu Talukdar, Secretary General of Smile Asia. The mission will run from 18 to 22 July 2026, with 38 medical professionals from eight countries working alongside Bangladeshi healthcare providers to perform cleft lip and palate surgeries. The multidisciplinary team includes plastic surgeons, anaesthesiologists, nurses, therapists and other specialists volunteering their expertise to help children eat, speak and live healthier, more confident lives. Speaking at the inauguration, chief guest Md. Ismail Zabihullah said, “I am proud to inaugurate this noble initiative today. This mission is restoring children’s smiles, confidence, and easing their parents’ worries. It’s a reminder that humanitarian work knows no borders.” Md. A. Razzak Sarkar, Director General of Government Employees Hospital, said, “We’re happy to collaborate once again with our partners, building on the success of last year’s mission. I thank everyone who has joined this initiative, including the medical teams who have traveled from eight countries to be here.” Md. Fazlul Hoque, Deputy Chief Executive Officer of SAJIDA Foundation, said, “Through countrywide coverage, we were able to onboard over 200 patients for this year’s mission. Health remains a priority sector for SAJIDA Foundation, and we look forward to continuing such humanitarian initiatives in partnership with the government and our partners.” Osman Ershad Faiz, Managing Director of Dhaka Bank PLC, said, “Because of the dedication and support of all our partners, these children will receive new smiles today. Dhaka Bank is proud to stand beside this humanitarian initiative, beyond our banking operations.” Abhimanyu Talukdar, Secretary General of Smile Asia, said, “Over the years, Smile Asia has completed more than 500 surgeries in Bangladesh and we look forward to doing even more. With volunteers from eight countries joining us this year, I’m confident this will be a successful mission.” Cleft lip and palate remain among the most common congenital craniofacial anomalies worldwide, affecting approximately one in every 500 to 600 live births. In Bangladesh alone, more than 5,000 children are born with these conditions every year. While cleft lip and palate are highly treatable through timely surgery, thousands of children continue to live without treatment because specialised surgical services remain inaccessible for many families due to financial hardship, geographical barriers and limited availability of expert care. Left untreated, children often face difficulties with feeding, speech development, hearing and nutrition, with lasting effects on their education, mental wellbeing and overall quality of life. A call centre for Government Employees Hospital was also inaugurated during the event to strengthen patient-centred healthcare services.  

One dengue-related death was reported and 242 new patients were admitted to hospitals across the country in the 24 hours until 8:00 am on Saturday. With the latest fatality, the dengue death toll has risen to 33 in the country this year, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS). The new death was reported in Khulna Division out of City Corporation. During the reporting period, 241 patients were discharged from hospitals after recovery. Heavy rains, waterlogging heighten dengue risk in Dhaka Since January 1, a total of 10,012 dengue patients have been admitted to hospitals across the country. Of them, 9,062 have recovered and been discharged.

Four children died with symptoms consistent with measles in the 24 hours until 8:00am on Saturday, bringing Bangladesh’s combined tally of confirmed and suspected measles-related deaths to 784. The Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) has classified the latest deaths as suspected measles fatalities. With the latest update, the number of suspected measles deaths has risen to 689, while the number of laboratory-confirmed measles deaths remained unchanged at 95. One suspected measles death reported in 24 hours A total of 699 new suspected measles cases were reported during the period, bringing the cumulative number of suspected cases nationwide to 116,710. Meanwhile, 74 new confirmed measles cases were recorded, bringing the total number of laboratory-confirmed infections to 14,318. Since March 15, a total of 99,249 patients with suspected measles have been hospitalised across the country, of whom 95,529 have recovered, according to DGHS data.

One child died with symptoms consistent with measles in the 24 hours until 8:00am on Friday, bringing Bangladesh’s combined tally of confirmed and suspected measles-related deaths to 780. The Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) has classified the latest death as suspected measles fatality. With the latest update, the number of suspected measles deaths has risen to 685, while the number of laboratory-confirmed measles deaths remained unchanged at 95. A total of 873 new suspected measles cases were reported during the period, bringing the cumulative number of suspected cases nationwide to 116,011. Meanwhile, 140 new confirmed measles cases were recorded, bringing the total number of laboratory-confirmed infections to 14,244. Since March 15, a total of 98,600 patients with suspected measles have been hospitalised across the country, of whom 95,031 have recovered, according to DGHS data.

Two more people died of dengue and 306 new patients were admitted to hospitals across the country in the 24 hours until 8:00am on Thursday. With the latest fatalities, the dengue death toll has risen to 32 in the country this year, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS). Both new deaths were reported in Dhaka South City Corporation and Dhaka North City Corporation. 2 more die of dengue, 391 hospitalised During the reporting period, 272 patients were discharged from hospitals after recovery. Since January 1, a total of 9,676 dengue patients have been admitted to hospitals across the country. Of them, 8,732 have recovered and been discharged, while 912 patients are currently undergoing treatment.

Two more people died of dengue and 391 new patients were admitted to hospitals across Bangladesh in the 24 hours until 8:00am on Wednesday. With the latest fatalities, the dengue death toll has risen to 30 in the country this year, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS). The two new deaths were reported in Dhaka division, it said. Dengue now a year-round public health challenge, coordinated action essential: Experts During the reporting period, 366 patients were discharged from hospitals after recovery. Since January 1, a total of 9,370 dengue patients have been admitted to hospitals across the country. Of them, 8,460 have recovered and been discharged, while 880 patients were currently undergoing treatment.

Five children died with symptoms consistent with measles in the 24 hours until 8:00am on Wednesday, bringing Bangladesh’s combined tally of confirmed and suspected measles-related deaths to 772. The Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) has classified the latest deaths as suspected measles fatalities. With the latest update, the number of suspected measles deaths has risen to 676, while the number of laboratory-confirmed measles deaths remained unchanged at 95. A total of 920 new suspected measles cases were reported during the period, bringing the cumulative number of suspected cases nationwide to 114,164. Meanwhile, 172 new confirmed measles cases were recorded, bringing the total number of laboratory-confirmed infections to 13,907. Since March 15, a total of 96,887 patients with suspected measles have been hospitalised across the country, of whom 93,260  have recovered, according to DGHS data.

Days of heavy rainfall and widespread waterlogging in the capital have heightened the risk of dengue, with stagnant water accumulating on roads, at construction sites and in residential areas, creating ideal breeding grounds for Aedes mosquitoes.  

One child died with symptoms consistent with measles in the 24 hours until 8:00am on Monday, bringing Bangladesh’s combined tally of confirmed and suspected measles-related deaths to 759. The Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) has classified the latest death as suspected measles fatality. With the latest update, the number of suspected measles deaths has risen to 665, while the number of laboratory-confirmed measles deaths remained unchanged at 94. A total of 896 new suspected measles cases were reported during the period, bringing the cumulative number of suspected cases nationwide to 1121,376. Meanwhile, 113 new confirmed measles cases were recorded, bringing the total number of laboratory-confirmed infections to 13,613. Since March 15, a total of 95,196 patients with suspected measles have been hospitalised across the country, of whom 91,483 have recovered, according to DGHS data.

Prime Minister's Special Assistant for Health Affairs Dr Ziauddin Hyder said today that the government is set to introduce mental health screening into the country's healthcare system for the first time. He said the government aims to transform the country's healthcare system from a treatment-centred model to a preventive one. As part of this initiative, Primary Health Care Units will be established in every union and ward across the country, while the recruitment process for 100,000 health workers is currently underway. IEB seminar stresses importance of healthy lifestyle These health workers will visit every household once every two months to check blood pressure and blood sugar levels, and will also conduct mental health screenings. The government is also planning to train doctors at the upazila level in mental healthcare so they can identify mental health problems at an early stage. Dr Hyder made the remarks while addressing a day-long workshop titled "Mental Health First Aid" as the chief guest on Saturday at the seminar room of the Department of Pharmacy at Dhaka University. The workshop was organised by the GRIT Foundation. Speaking at the event, Dr Hyder said the true extent of mental health problems in Bangladesh remains largely unknown. Although surveys conducted in 2018 and 2019 highlighted the country's alarming mental health situation, social stigma surrounding mental illness continues to persist. "Being depressed or frustrated does not mean someone is mentally unstable. It is a common health condition, and we can overcome this challenge through collective efforts and by changing society's mindset," he said. He also expressed concern over the state of the country's education and healthcare systems, arguing that excessive academic pressure, uncertainty about the future, and increasing social isolation are worsening mental health problems among students. According to him, weakening family and social bonds in modern society have led to greater loneliness, which has become one of the major contributors to mental health issues. Highlighting the importance of sports and cultural activities in children's mental development, Dr Hyder said the government is planning to make sports a compulsory subject from Grade Three to create a more enjoyable learning environment. He added that greater emphasis will also be placed on involving children in music, cultural programmes, and other creative activities. Speaking as the chair of the programme, GRIT Foundation Chairperson and Member of Parliament Mahmuda Habiba said Bangladesh has fewer than 400 trained psychiatrists for a population of nearly 200 million, meaning there is only one psychiatrist for roughly every 700,000 people. She noted that producing a new specialist takes between five and seven years. Therefore, she stressed the need for six-month to one-year short-term training programmes to develop skilled personnel capable of providing primary mental healthcare services.