"With the rise in dengue cases across the country, the government has increased facilities for dengue patients' treatment, which include readying 500 beds in 1,000-bed DNCC Covid dedicated hospital and 400 beds in BSMMU's field hospital."
The minister said this while speaking as the chief guest at a discussion to celebrate the 59th birth anniversary of Sheikh Russel and foundation stone laying of the multipurpose building of Sheikh Russel National Gastroliver Institute & Hospital.
Highlighting the current dengue situation, the minister said the Ministry of Health (MoH) has no direct responsibility behind the rise in number of dengue cases.
"The MoH can provide treatment, but it is not responsible for mosquito repelling. We took necessary measures with the rise in the number of cases."
There is no alternative to take actions to handle the mosquito menace and make people aware of the situation, the health minister added.
Health Secretary Anwar Hossain Howlader and DGHS Director General (DG) A B M Khurshid Alam were present in the programme, among others.
Meanwhile, the country reported two new deaths from dengue, while 923 new patients were also hospitalised in the past 24 hours until Wednesday morning.
With the latest daily counts, the total fatalities from the viral disease reached 120 and total cases 33,923 this year, the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) said in its regular bulletin.
Of the latest cases, 520 were hospitalised in Dhaka, and 403 outside the capital.
So far, 30,423 patients have been released from hospitals after treatment.
The DGHS data shows that October has been the worst month in terms of rise in the number of dengue deaths and hospitalised cases.
The DGHS recorded 65 deaths and 17,831 hospitalised case in October, 34 cases in September, and 11 cases in August.
