Sarjis Alam, a key coordinator of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, has criticised the Health and Family Welfare Adviser Nurjahan Begum of the interim government for failing to fulfil her responsibilities appropriately.
He emphasised that the adviser is expected to work from hospitals, not the ministry.
Sarjis Alam made these remarks during a visit to the Centre for the Rehabilitation of the Paralysed in Savar on Tuesday (15 October), where he inspected the treatment of patients injured during the recent public uprising.
Speaking to the press, Sarjis Alam stated, “At this moment, the health advisor should be the most active individual in Bangladesh. Her office should not be in the ministry but in the hospitals. She should be constantly visiting each hospital. We have repeatedly said that we want to see the health adviser and those associated with her more active, but we do not see that happening.”
Expressing his frustration over the lack of government presence in hospitals, he added, “Why are we still here? It has been two to two-and-a-half months, and yet they are saying they have not received any government aid. Is Tk100 crore really a significant amount for a ministry? If they gave Tk1 lakh to each injured person, would that be too much? Why then are my injured brothers telling me that no help has arrived?"
Sarjis Alam further urged, “We are calling for immediate action. The authorities must visit every location and provide all necessary assistance to the injured as quickly as possible.”
