Mashrafe Bin Mortaza, Bangladesh’s cricket icon and MP from Narail-2 constituency, on Sunday sought an intensive care unit (ICU) for Narail Sadar Hospital from Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina if any decision is taken to install ICUs at district-level hospitals to face the coronavirus crisis.
“If you (PM) take any decision to install ICU at district-level hospitals, please ensure so that we, the people of Narail, get one. I hope we’ll able to face this situation in a better way,” he told the Prime Minister.
Mashrafe placed the demand while the Prime Minister was exchanging views with government officials and public representatives from 16 districts under Khulna and Barishal divisions.
He said they have already received a letter from the Prime Minister’s Office over upgrading Narail Sadar Hospital to a 250-bed one and the upgradation work is underway.
The cricketer assured that the government relief is being delivered to those in need in the district through union-level committees.
He said the allocation of rice for Tk 10 per kg has been curtailed from 900 kg to 300 kg for the district and urged the Prime Minister to increase the amount considering the size of the population and poor in the district.
In reply, Sheikh Hasina said all sorts of assistance, including Test Relief (TR), Food for Work (Kabikha), elderly allowance and widow allowance, are now being disbursed at a time. “So, the rice at the subsidised price will be provided in another phase during upcoming Ramadan. The amount will not be cut; rather it’ll be given in phases.”
Mashrafe welcomed the Prime Minister’s decision, saying the people of Narail will stay good with her decision.
Noting that police have been working hard during the present situation caused by the outbreak of coronavirus, he hailed the police force. “Police have been working round the clock in Narail as well,” he added.
