DHAKA, March 31, 2026 (BSS) - Nearly 88,000 litres of illegally stored fuel oil have been recovered through mobile court drives in various districts over the last 24 hours. Of the total, 67,400 litres of diesel, 6,444 litres of octane and 13,856 litres of petrol were seized, according to a press release issued by the Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources today. A total of 391 mobile courts were conducted across the country during the period to prevent illegal hoarding of fuel and ensure a normal supply system. In these drives, 191 cases were filed and fines amounting to Tk 935,070 were realised. Meanwhile, one person in Satkhira was sentenced to two months’ imprisonment, one in Chandpur to one year, and another in Gazipur to one month. The Energy and Mineral Resources Division said such drives will continue to ensure an uninterrupted fuel supply and prevent irregularities. It added that executive magistrates of the Energy Department are carrying out regular patrols in different parts of the country, including Dhaka. The authorities have requested people to contact the Vigilance Team through its designated number if they notice any irregularities or receive information about suspicious activities.  

RAJSHAHI, March 31, 2026 (BSS)- Md. Kamruzzaman Chowdhury, secretary of the Health Services Division under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, expressed regret over the deaths of children who were waiting for Intensive Care Unit (ICU) treatment at Rajshahi Medical College and Hospital (RMCH). He spoke to journalists at the hospital on Tuesday afternoon and acknowledged certain limitations.  The Secretary said, "We are deeply saddened by the deaths of our children in Rajshahi, as you have highlighted. No death is ever desirable for anyone. We  regret these losses. We had some limitations here."   RMCH has only 12 ICU beds for children. Newly-admitted children must wait for a bed to become available. When a child in the ICU either passes away or shows some improvement, the next child on the waiting list is called.   Even with a serial system, it often takes 30 to 50 children before a call comes for ICU admission. Amid this, alongside common illnesses, there has been an outbreak of measles among children, further increasing the demand for ICU care. The hospital authorities are struggling to manage the situation.   Health Secretary Md. Kamruzzaman and Acting Director General (DG) of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) Professor Dr. Pravat Chandra Biswas (P C Biswas) visited the hospital. They met with hospital officials and doctors in the morning to discuss overall issues, then inspected various wards and the ICU, and later spoke  with journalists.   With support from various organisations in Dhaka, they have brought seven ventilators, which they believe will help somehow to manage the situation,  the Secretary mentioned.  In addition, they plan to transfer children who do not have infectious diseases to the Rajshahi Heart Foundation if ICU care is required, where ICU support is also available.   He also announced plans to improve the infrastructure of other hospitals in Rajshahi, including Rajshahi Shishu Hospital, the District Hospital, and the Chest Disease Hospital, and said he would personally inspect these hospitals on Tuesday.   He stated that the Rajshahi Shishu Hospital would be partially operational within three months. Outpatient services will start first, with other services to be introduced in the next fiscal year.   In the past, due to health workers' strikes, children missed measles vaccinations, the Secretary added.  Mothers may have gone to vaccinate their children but did not find health workers available, which may have led to the outbreak.   The procurement committee has already approved Taka 604 crore to purchase vaccines, and the funds have been disbursed. Vaccination for children, including for measles, will commence soon.