BAGERHAT, JUNE 08 (V7N)– Patients at Morelganj Upazila Health Complex in Bagerhat expressed extreme dissatisfaction today, Eid-ul-Adha (Saturday, June 7), after being served poultry chicken instead of the expected mutton for lunch. The menu consisted of a small piece of poultry meat, thick rice porridge, and an egg, a stark contrast to the special mutton dishes typically prescribed for festive occasions.

At 12:30 pm on this special day, patients in both male and female wards received this limited lunch. For breakfast, they were given only milk-free semai, one sweet, and one piece of bread. This contradicts official directives that stipulate mutton for lunch and mandatory eggs and bananas for breakfast on such special days, which were evidently omitted.

Further compounding the issue, both regular cooks, Sohel Hossain Bali and Liza Akhter, were absent from work. Sohel Bali is reportedly in Pirojpur, with his wife Sarmin Begum serving food in his stead. Liza Akhter, the other cook, was replaced by her employee, Ripa Khanam. Allegations have surfaced against Liza Akhter, stating that she resides in Bagerhat city and has not reported to the hospital for years, only appearing at the end of the month to sign for and collect her salary.

Admitted patients, including Aisha, Sufia Begum, Sumaiya Akhter, Rahima Begum, Abdul Jabbar Fakir, Quddus Talukder, Nasir Ahmed, and teacher Rabindranath Halder, who have been hospitalized for 3-4 days, voiced their anger. They stated that the promise of special food on such a significant day exists "only on paper." They complained, "I ate poultry chicken yesterday too, and today I got poultry chicken pieces too."

Dr. Curzon de Sarkar, the medical officer in charge of the hospital for the Eid holiday, admitted he was unaware of the lunch menu for patients, stating he had not been informed about the food to be served.

However, Dr. Md. Nadiruzzaman Akash, the Medical Officer in Charge (RMO) of Morelganj Hospital, acknowledged that the hospital served an egg, rice, and chicken for Eid lunch. He claimed unawareness of any provision for mutton on the menu. He further stated that the same food has been served on special days in the past, attributing this practice to the increase in market prices for goods.

END/MPS/RH/