Eight years after the start of the construction, Barishal's first specialized hospital remains incomplete for children.
According to the Department of Public Work, the construction of the hospital began on February 13, 2017 with an expected start in 2019. The hospital is still under construction and is missing an essential infrastructure. The hospital was intended as a 10-story full-fledged complex and should initially be built up to four floors at a price of 19.48 billion TK.
For all the latest news, follow the Google News Channel from Daily Star. PWD officials claimed that 95 percent of the work was completed and that the building will soon be ready for handing over.
After the operation, the hospital is to be run by the Sher-e-Bangla Medical College Hospital.
SBMCH director Briggen Gen AKM Moshiul Munir said, however, said that not even a single appointment had been made so far. No steps were taken to recruit the required 350 employees or to obtain and install medical devices.
The Pediatric community of Sbmch is currently the only facility that serves children from the six districts of the department as well as from the neighboring Madaripur and Shariatpur.
A current visit to the construction site showed that the main structure is largely complete, internal work, including power connections, are still in progress. Two elevators were installed, but parts of the building still require plastering and painting, while access roads and parking spaces are also in development.
The delay in the introduction of the special hospital is burdening the existing pediatric station in SBMCH, said Rezwanur Alam, deputy director of the hospital.
The construction site was previously a pond that had to be filled out for the project, which led to a delay in the fundamental work. Further delays were caused by land acquisition issues, said Pintu, brother of the project of the project and former Barishal Sadar Upazila Chairman, Saidur Rahman, who is currently in prison.
Kamal Hossain Hawlader, PWD sub-department engineer, said a building for the power supply station had been built, but the equipment does not have to be bought due to a lack of means. As soon as the funds are available, the work is completed and the building is handed over.
Faisal Ahmed, Executive Engineer from PWD, made the blocked progress in insufficient funds and added that the matter was informed of the responsible ministry.