Nasim presents Singapore, Malaysia model to doctors to seek vote for Awami League

Health Minister Mohammed Nasim has presented the development as well as democracy models of Singapore and Malaysia to doctors and solicited votes for Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Awami League.

He spoke at the six monthly conference of Sandhani, voluntary blood donation campaign group run by medical students, at Cox’ Bazar Medical College on Friday, and said the country needs the current prime minister again to keep the development momentum continued.

The next general election is scheduled to be held in December.

Nasim, who is also the spokesperson for the 14-party alliance led by the ruling Awami League, said Lee Kuan Yew led Singapore for three decades and Malaysia’s current Prime Minister Mahathir Mohammed led for about 22 years in the first phase between 1981 and 2003.

“They (Singaporeans and Malaysian) kept their faith and trust in them for their developments,” he said, adding that Hasina has solved many problems in the last 10 years - from combating militancy to building massive infrastructures.

The Cox’s Bazar Medical College has also been established by Hasina’s government, he said.

He added that a 500-bed hospital with Indian funding will also be established in the southeastern district.

“I’ll lay the foundation stone along with the Indian high commissioner very soon,” he said, adding that more such 500-bed hospitals will be built in Noakhali, Pabna and Jessore.

He urged doctors and medical students, particularly members of Sandhani, to vote for Awami Legaue in the next elections for more developments.

“There is no alternative to elections. There is no alternative to democracy. Bangladesh is now far ahead of India and Pakistan in many health indicators,” he said, “those were possible because of Sheikh Hasina”.

He mentioned the Aug 21 grenade attack on Awami League in 2004 and said “contaminated blood” runs through BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami.

“You have to avoid contaminated blood,” he quipped as Sandhani promotes safe blood transfusion.

Earlier in the day, the health minister inaugurated a new hospital for mother and children at the premises of Ukhia Upazila Hospital for both Rohingyas and local people.