Tangail’s 18-Month Hospital Project Delayed for 20 Years
Mostafa Kamal Nannu, Tangail
The construction of the new building for the Basail Upazila Health Complex in Tangail remains incomplete even after 20 years, though the project was originally scheduled to be completed in just 18 months. The delay has resulted in ongoing deprivation of healthcare services for the local population.
In 2005, the government decided to upgrade the existing 31-bed health complex to a 50-bed facility. The project was tendered on January 10 of that year and awarded on September 24 to contractor firm Messrs. Sonar Bangla Engineering Company. According to the work order, the project was to be completed by April 23, 2007.
Under the contract, the firm was tasked with building two four-story buildings, one two-story, and one single-story structure, along with renovations to the existing building, for a total cost of approximately Tk 49.6 million. By September 2006, the contractor had already withdrawn around Tk 33.9 million, claiming that 76% of the work had been completed. However, the site remains largely incomplete.
Abandoned sections of the complex have become a haven for drug users, with frequent movement of students and youths reported in these unsafe areas. Meanwhile, modern medical equipment, allocated for the new facility, is deteriorating in storage.
Multiple doctors at the health complex, speaking on condition of anonymity, said drug addicts have taken over the abandoned buildings, causing concern for both patients and medical staff. They emphasized the need for increased police surveillance.
Former Upazila Vice Chairman Rasheda Sultana Ruby stated, “The completion of this health facility is crucial for ensuring basic healthcare for the people. I’ve tried multiple times to get the work resumed, but with little success.”
Acting President of the local BNP unit, Mamun Al Jahangir, accused the contractor of deliberately stalling the work. “We have raised this issue multiple times. Our Vice Chairman, Ahmed Azam Khan, has spoken with higher authorities regarding the matter.”
Dr. Sharly Hamid, the Upazila Health and Family Planning Officer, said, “Senior officials, including the Additional Director General of the Health Directorate, have visited the site. Although a revised budget was sanctioned, it was later returned. The project still remains with the original contractor. We have doctors, but insufficient rooms. Modern equipment cannot be used due to lack of suitable infrastructure.”
An official of Sonar Bangla Engineering blamed the Health Engineering Department, claiming, “We stopped work because Tk 15.6 million in bills and an additional Tk 6 million remain unpaid.”
Md. Saidur Rahman, Executive Engineer of the District Health Engineering Department, said, “There is currently no funding allocated. The contractor has filed a lawsuit. Once funds are available, we plan to complete the project with a new contractor.”