8 years on, construction still incomplete

Even eight years after construction began, Barishal's first specialised hospital for children remains incomplete.

According to the Public Works Department, construction of the hospital began in February 13, 2017, with an expected launch in 2019. The hospital is still under construction and lacks essential infrastructure. Envisioned as a 10-storey full-fledged complex, the hospital was initially planned to be constructed up to four storeys at a cost of Tk 19.48 crore.

PWD officials claimed that 95 percent of the work has been completed and that the building will be ready for handover soon.

Once operational, the hospital is slated to be run by Sher-e-Bangla Medical College Hospital.

SBMCH Director Brig Gen AKM Moshiul Munir, however, said not even a single appointment has been made so far. No steps have been taken to recruit the required 350 staff members or to procure and install medical equipment.

Currently, the paediatric ward of SBMCH is the only facility serving children from across the division's six districts, as well as from neighbouring Madaripur and Shariatpur.

A recent visit to the construction site revealed that while the main structure is mostly complete, internal works, including electricity connections, are still underway. Two elevators have been installed, but parts of the building still require plastering and painting, while access roads and parking areas are also under development.

Delay in launching the specialised hospital is putting immense strain on the existing paediatric ward at SBMCH, said Rezwanur Alam, assistant director of the hospital.

The construction site was previously a pond that had to be filled up for the project, which caused delay in foundation work. Further delays were caused by land acquisition issues, said Pintu, brother of the project's contractor and former Barishal Sadar upazila chairman Saidur Rahman, who is currently in jail.

Kamal Hossain Hawlader, PWD sub-divisional engineer, said a building for the power sub-station has been constructed, but the equipment has yet to be purchased due to lack of funds. Once funds are available, the work will be completed and the building handed over.

PWD Executive Engineer Faisal Ahmed blamed the stalled progress on insufficient funding, adding that the matter has been communicated to the relevant ministry.