Staff Reporter:
Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md. Sakhawat Husain yesterday called for ensuring adequate blood stocks so that no one dies due to its shortage.
He also stressed strengthening posthumous eye donation activities and making the country self-sufficient in collecting corneas.
The minister made the remarks while addressing a discussion meeting as the chief guest at the lecture hall of the Super Specialized Hospital of Bangladesh Medical University (BMU), marking the National Voluntary Blood Donation and Posthumous Eye Donation Day-2026.
Sakhawat said it is not possible to accelerate blood donation programmes merely by organising seminars. Public awareness must be created for this purpose, he said.
The importance of blood donation must be highlighted not only among doctors but also among people from different professions and walks of life, the minister said.
People must be made aware that blood donation does not cause physical harm to the donor; rather, one bag of blood can save a person’s life, he said.
Referring to blood donation from a religious perspective, Sakhawat Hossain said donating blood is a noble act.
Saving a person’s life is a great form of charity, he said, adding that saving another person’s life through blood donation is also a virtuous deed for the hereafter.
Doctors Association of Bangladesh (DAB) President Professor Dr. Harun Al Rashid, Secretary General Dr Md. Zohirul Islam Shakil, Sandhani National Eye Donation Society President Professor Dr Md Fazlul Haque Kashem and its Secretary General and Member Secretary of the Observance Sub-Committee Professor Dr Mohammad Monir Hossain, among others, were present at the programme.
Earlier, a colourful rally was brought out from the Central Shaheed Minar at 9am, to mark the day.
The rally ended reaching at the ground floor premises of the BMU Super Specialized Hospital.
Participants carried placards and banners bearing various slogans to encourage people to donate blood and pledge their eyes for donation after death.
