Member of Parliament Engr. Mahbuba Hakim, elected from the reserved women’s seat-47 (nominated by Bangladesh Khelafat Majlish), has strongly demanded the immediate launch of regular liver transplant services at the National Institute of Diseases of the Digestive System and Hospital (National Gastro-Liver Institute)—the country’s only specialized facility of its kind. She also urged the government to expedite the construction of ‘Building-2’ to upgrade the institution into a 1,000-bed hospital.
Drawing the attention of the Health Minister through the Hon’ble Speaker during a session of the National Parliament, MP Mahbuba Hakim presented her statement in the House.
Below is the complete statement delivered by MP Engr. Mahbuba Hakim:
“Assalamu Alaikum. Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim.
Thank you, Hon’ble Speaker. Hon’ble Speaker, amid various challenges including gas, electricity, and political instability, the Hon’ble Prime Minister stated in a speech on August 15, 2023, ‘We want to build a nation where people will not need to travel abroad for medical treatment.’ Inspired by that commitment, and as the spouse of a gastro-liver specialist, I am raising the issue on behalf of the Bangladesh Gastroenterology Society to immediately commence liver transplant operations at the National Gastro-Liver Institute and Hospital located in Mohakhali, and to construct ‘Building-2’ with the target of expanding the hospital to 1,000 beds.
Hon’ble Speaker, through you, I would like to draw the attention of the Hon’ble Health Minister to the fact that in the 2025–26 fiscal year, 5 types of liver transplant-related equipment have already arrived at the institute. The remaining 10 types of instruments are expected to arrive next month. Installation and setup will take approximately two months. Hon’ble Speaker, what is urgently required now is arranging the necessary foreign training for the team of around 45 members already formed for this purpose.
Hon’ble Speaker, although successful liver transplants were conducted in Bangladesh for the first time in 2010 and subsequently in 2019, the program later stalled. A tragic example of this was seen in 2023 when Deshnetri Begum Khaleda Zia was suffering from severe liver cirrhosis, and her medical board informed that the necessary treatment was not possible on Bangladeshi soil. Hon’ble Speaker, the last ray of hope for a average liver patient remains India or Singapore, where a liver transplant costs at least 40 to nearly 50 lakh BDT.
Therefore, Hon’ble Speaker, through you, I earnestly draw the kind attention of the Hon’ble Health Minister and urge the government to establish liver transplants as a regular institutional practice at the country’s sole specialized National Gastro-Liver Institute and Hospital, and to initiate the construction of ‘Building-2’ utilizing the 3.5 acres of land allocated in 2024.
Thank you, Hon’ble Speaker.”
