Chief Whip of the Jatiya Sangsad Nurul Islam Moni has said the current government has placed special emphasis on developing the health sector and increased budget allocation for the sector compared with previous levels. He thanked Prime Minister Tarique Rahman and Dr Zubaida Rahman for the initiative.

He made the remarks as the chief guest at the opening session of the 8th National Conference and Annual General Meeting 2026 of the Bangladesh Thyroid Society (BTS), held at the Pan Pacific Sonargaon Hotel in Dhaka on Friday (October 9).

The chief whip said inadequate measles vaccination coverage over the past two years had resulted in adverse consequences. The current government was now having to deal with the impact of the situation inherited from the previous administration. However, he said, the government was working to address existing challenges in the health sector and ensure access to medical services for the public.

He alleged that the previous government had caused extensive damage to various sectors of the country. As part of efforts to overhaul the health sector, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, with advice and assistance from Dr Zubaida Rahman, had nearly doubled the budget allocation for the sector, he said. The government was also working relentlessly to develop the power and energy sectors alongside healthcare.

Emphasising the importance of public awareness and research on thyroid diseases, Nurul Islam Moni said the thyroid gland plays a vital role in human growth, intellectual development and the regulation of various bodily functions. He called on doctors and other relevant stakeholders to work together to prevent thyroid diseases, ensure early diagnosis and provide improved treatment.

He said he would personally take initiatives to promote awareness and support research on thyroid diseases. He would also seek to implement necessary measures through Parliament wherever opportunities arose.

Expressing optimism, he said a combination of education, innovation and effective initiatives could improve the quality of life of people living with thyroid disorders.

Wishing the conference every success, the chief whip expressed hope that the knowledge, experience and recommendations generated at the event would play an important role in improving the quality of healthcare services in Bangladesh.

The conference was chaired by Professor Dr A.K.M. Fazlul Bari, president of the Bangladesh Thyroid Society and director of the National Institute of Nuclear Medicine and Allied Sciences (NINMAS).

Special guests included Professor Dr Harun Al Rashid, president of the Doctors Association of Bangladesh; Professor Dr M.A. Karim, chief adviser to the Bangladesh Thyroid Society; and Professor Dr A.K. Azad Khan, president of the Diabetic Association of Bangladesh. The society’s secretary-general, Professor Dr Nasreen Sultana, delivered the welcome address. Professor Fouzia Moslem, the society’s founding president, was also present.

The daylong conference featured scientific discussions on modern methods of diagnosing and treating thyroid diseases, thyroid cancer, thyroid disorders during pregnancy, iodine deficiency-related diseases, and the relationship between thyroid conditions and heart health.