The entire country is in a state of anxiety with the worst dengue hit recorded and now questions are afloat about where the health minister is amidst the outbreak.
Some sources claim that Minister Zahid Maleque is on a family vacation to Malaysia while a senior ministry official he is in his Manikganj constituency, helping the flood victims.
Several officials at the health ministry and the directorate general of health services, wishing to remain anonymous, however, told Bangla Tribune on Tuesday (Jul 30) that he is indeed in Malaysia with his family.
They expressed astonishment that the top person of the health department went abroad in such a situation and consider the behaviour to be unprofessional.
They said that he left for Malaysia on Saturday (Jul 27) and is expected to be back within a week.
The minister’s Assistant Personal Secretary Dr Arif told Bangla Tribune over the phone that the minister was there and connected to everything.
“He’s supposed to be there right now. I’m out of the office due to illness,” he said and directed the Bangla Tribune correspondent to speak to the minister’s personal secretary.
Meanwhile, the ministry’s Senior Information officer Maidul Islam Pradhan said that Maleque has been in his Manikganj constituency since Sunday (Jul 28) to distribute aid among flood victims.
“He came to Dhaka for a little while due to an emergency but went back. He’ll join office from tomorrow [Wednesday, Jul 31] afternoon,” he said.
The minister didn’t pick up his phone despite several attempts by Bangla Tribune.