Staff Correspondent:

Environment, Forests and Climate Change Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan on Tuesday said the government has decided to recruit 2,000 more doctors to enhance healthcare access to the grassroots level.

“The recruitment process for 3,493 doctors through the Bangladesh Public Service Commission (PSC) is currently underway. In addition, we have decided to hire 2,000 more doctors to address the healthcare needs in rural areas,” she said during a briefing at the Foreign Service Academy.

During the meeting, the Council of Advisers also decided to rename two institutions: the Bangabandhu Science and Technology Fellowship Trust and the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Novo Theatre.

The briefing was held following a Council of Advisers meeting chaired by Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus at the Chief Adviser’s Office in Tejgaon.

Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam, Deputy Press Secretaries Apurba Jahangir and Abul Kalam Azad Majumder and Assistant Press Secretary Suchismita Tithi were also present at the press briefing.

Adviser Rizwana emphasised the government’s commitment to addressing the healthcare gap in rural areas, noting that rural populations are underserved in terms of medical care. “The main goal of today’s decision is to ensure that healthcare services and doctors are more accessible at the grassroots level.”

In addition to this, the Council of Advisers reviewed the progress of its decisions, revealing that out of 135 decisions made, 92 (or approximately 68%) have already been implemented.

The council also agreed to set global standards for the regulation of saturated fat content in food products.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Education has revoked its decision to allocate a five percent quota in government secondary schools for family members of those injured or killed during the July Uprising, and has instead instructed that one extra seat per class be reserved for such students.

Referring to the matter, Adviser Rizwana said this facility will be a one-time facility for the admission of family members of those injured and martyred in the July Uprising 2024 to schools.

“It is being considered as part of the one-time assistance being provided to the affected families. It is in no way comparable to a quota,” she said.