The Mission organised the lottery programme to raise funds for construction of the cancer hospital.

HI Helen, a housewife and resident of Khilgaon Chowdhurypara, Dhaka, won the first prize of Tk 30 lakh.

Expressing her feelings, she said, "I always buy tickets. This time I bought 10 tickets. I have not yet decided what to do with the money, but I wish to donate a part of the money to the poor."

The second prize winner, Firoza Begum, a housewife, came from Keshabpur in Jessore to receive the prize money of Tk 5 lakh.

"I will spend a part of the money on the education for my two children and invest the rest in my husband's business," said Firoza, who purchased only five tickets.

Minister for Health and Family Welfare Dr Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain gave away the prize money among a number of winners.

Speaking as the chief guest, he said, "Although the primary health sector has achieved enough progress, we are still lagging behind in the specialised medical service sector. So, the patients are still going abroad for better treatment."

Appreciating the Ahsania Mission's initiative to set up a 500-bed cancer hospital of international standard, he hoped that this hospital would ensure better treatment for cancer patients at home.

Barrister Rafique-ul Huq, Kazi Rafiqul Alam, president and chief executive of DAM, Md Fazlur Rahman, managing director of AMCH, also spoke while Dr Enamul Haque, former IGP and member of the Law Commission, presided.