BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi has urged the interim government to prioritise strengthening the country’s healthcare system, saying this would significantly reduce the need for citizens to travel abroad, especially to India, for medical treatment.

“Why should we spend valuable dollars going to India for treatment? Why should we give money to those who continuously create false narratives and spread propaganda against us?” Rizvi said while addressing a discussion at the Jatiya Press Club, organised by the Nurses Association of Bangladesh to mark International Nurses Day.

He noted that the foreign currency spent abroad for healthcare could instead be invested in empowering local doctors, nurses, and hospitals, thereby improving the quality of care available within Bangladesh.

“If we receive good service from our own medical professionals, there would be no reason to go abroad. That quality depends on how equipped and supported they are by the state,” Rizvi added.

He called on the interim government to move beyond rhetoric and implement real reforms, especially in the healthcare, education, and social welfare sectors.

"You say you’re here for reforms—so act on it," Rizvi urged, proposing that the government take steps such as providing accommodation for nurses at health complexes and increasing investment in medical infrastructure.

Bangladesh currently faces a shortage of approximately 225,000 nurses, according to Rizvi, who stressed the urgent need to address both manpower and structural gaps in the sector.

He also blamed the previous Awami League government for “destroying the health sector through corruption, fraud, and money laundering.”

Rizvi concluded by stating that meaningful reform in healthcare under the interim government could set a strong example for future administrations and restore public confidence in domestic medical services.