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Published : 08 Apr 2026, 11:21 AM
Since the recent outbreak of measles, hospitals across the country have been struggling to cope with the influx of patients. Comilla Medical College Hospital (COMCH) is no exception. Due to a shortage of beds, children infected with measles are being treated in the corridors.
However, a 100-bed specialised hospital building for children that has been fully constructed still remains unused after more than a year and a half.
According to officials, although construction has been completed, the hospital has not yet been opened due to a dispute between the paediatric department of COMCH and the Comilla Civil Surgeon’s Office over who will take responsibility for its operation.
However, amid the measles outbreak, the civil surgeon has stated that a request has been sent to the ministry for staff and equipment.
A visit to Padua Bazar’s Beltoli along the Dhaka–Chattogram Highway in Cumilla shows that the 100-bed children’s hospital building is fully ready. However, the modern facility lacks doctors, nurses, furniture, and medical equipment.
Saiful Islam, assistant engineer of the Health Engineering Department in Cumilla, said that construction of the 100-bed children’s hospital began in 2020. Built on three acres of land at a cost of Tk 365.3 million, the project includes a three-story hospital building, two residential quarters (one six-storey and one three-storey), and a two-storey garage. The construction was completed in 2024.
He said, “We wanted to hand over the hospital one and a half years ago. But due to complications over who would take responsibility, no allocation for staff, equipment, or furniture has been requested. Otherwise, the hospital could have been operational by now.”
Officials from the Health Engineering Department say that if responsibility had been taken on time, the hospital could have served as a modern treatment centre for children in the region during this critical period of measles outbreak.
On Monday, a visit to the paediatric department of COMCH revealed that even after setting up three new isolation wards alongside the general ward, children with measles are still being treated in the corridors.
Three rooms—one on the ground floor and two on the first floor—have been designated as isolation units for children with measles or related symptoms. A total of 32 children from Cumilla, Noakhali, Brahmanbaria, and Chandpur are currently admitted to these rooms.
Due to lack of space, several patients are being treated on mats in the corridors of the isolation unit, while others have made beds directly on the floor.
Although patients in isolation units are supposed to maintain a certain distance, overcrowding has forced families to stay in cramped conditions to ensure treatment for their children.
Farzana Akter, the mother of six-month-old Ayat from Hajiganj in Chandpur, said: “Ayat is being given oxygen through ventilation. We were referred to Cumilla because ventilator support is not available in Chandpur.”
Sukhen Das, father of five-month-old Raju from Nabinagar in Brahmanbaria, said, “Doctors referred us to COMCH, but we didn’t get a bed. So we are receiving treatment in the corridor. We heard this hospital provides better care compared to nearby areas.”
Dr Mia Monjur Ahmed, head of the paediatric department at COMCH, said that due to relatively better treatment facilities, children with infectious diseases from the greater Cumilla and Noakhali regions come to the hospital. Although the hospital has only 40 beds allocated for paediatric patients, it typically treats at least three times that number daily. Since the measles outbreak, patient pressure has increased severalfold.
He said, “If the 100-bed children’s hospital at Padua Bazar’s Beltoli could be opened quickly, specialised treatment facilities could be arranged there. It would be especially helpful for creating isolation wards for infectious diseases.”
Also, children could receive all types of treatment under one roof there, and it would also ease the burden on COMCH, he said.
Finally, the responsibility for the children’s hospital has been assigned to the Comilla Civil Surgeon’s Office.
Civil Surgeon Dr Ali Noor Mohammad Bashir Ahmed said, “Initially, the paediatric department of COMCH was asked to take responsibility, but they said it was not possible for them.
“Later, the responsibility was given to us. I have spoken with the Health Engineering Department, and they said there is some remaining work and unpaid electricity bills. They have not yet received final clearance from the contractor.”
He further added, “The hospital still lacks furniture and equipment. A request has been sent to the ministry for staff recruitment.
“If the concerned higher authorities take notice, we will be able to make the hospital operational within a short time.”
