Health minister comes under fire

A parliamentary body yesterday expressed dissatisfaction over Health Minister Zahid Maleque’s trip to Malaysia at a time when the country is reeling from dengue.

The parliamentary standing committee on public assurance asked why the health minister is abroad when people are suffering from dengue.

Meanwhile, amid criticism over the ministry’s failure in controlling dengue outbreak, Maleque decided to cut his trip short and returned to the country early today, sources at the health ministry said. 

He is expected to hold a press conference today at the ministry.

Zahid went to Malaysia with family on July 28, when the capital and others districts were witnessing rise in dengue cases. He was scheduled to return on August 4, said ministry sources.

Talking to reporters after the meeting of parliamentary standing committee on public assurance at Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban, Jatiya Party lawmaker Fakhrul Imam -- a member of the parliamentary watchdog -- told reporters that two members of the committee expressed their resentment over the health minister’s trip abroad at this moment. 

Awami League MP Ali Ashraf, chairman of the committee, and AL MP Mayeen Uddin Khan Badal wanted to know why the minister is abroad at a time when dengue outbreak has gripped the nation.

Top officials of the health ministry, who were present at the meeting, however, did not respond. 

The parliamentary committee asked the ministry to take all-out measures to control the dengue outbreak.