Oral saline factory fails to start in 11 yrs

The building that was constructed for an oral saline factory five years ago is yet to start functioning due to negligence of the authorities concerned.

It was built at a cost of nearly Tk 1 crore is getting dilapidated due to carelessness and negligence of the authorities concerned. 

Civil Surgeon (CS) Dr Rasheda Sultana said former BNP lawmaker and the then president of the Standing Committee on the Ministry of Health Mashiur Rahman took the initiative in 2004 to build an oral saline factory in the district.  Construction of a building started in 2006 in this regard and was completed in 2012 at a cost of Tk 98,39,680.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the factory in Madan Mohonpara in the district town on October 8 in 2013, but it has not started functioning yet, Dr Rasheda said. The building has started getting dilapidated, she said, adding that doors and windows are broken and electric fans and lights are getting rusted and damaged.

Locals said anti-social elements and criminals gather in the building and take drugs there.

Sacheton Nagorik Committee (Sanak) district unit President Abu Taher said the factory has not started operating till now due to negligence of the health ministry.

Dr Rasheda said around one lakh packets of oral saline are needed in the district every month, which are brought from Jessore. She said if the factory starts functioning, the demand from nearby districts would have been met.

She said they have not received any equipment as no manpower has been appointed.

Dr Rasheda said she has sent a letter to the authorities concerned to appoint a manager, chemist and 53 employees.