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Published : 11 May 2026, 01:23 AM
Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has told authorities to immediately open six children’s hospitals across Bangladesh, built years ago but left unused, his office has said.
At an emergency meeting with the health ministry on Sunday, he instructed authorities to operationalise the facilities without delay and submit a full progress report by Jun 2.
The hospitals are located in Rajshahi, Khulna, Rangpur, Barishal, Cumilla and Sylhet.
A Facebook post from the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) said relevant officials, including ministry secretaries, were directed to inspect the facilities and take swift steps to bring them into operation.
Built at a cost of Tk 3.2 billion, the six modern hospital buildings have remained unused for years, a situation recently highlighted in a Prothom Alo report, which the PMO said prompted the latest intervention.
Health System Push and Stalled Infrastructure
Health Minister Sardar Md Sakhawat Hossain, State Minister MA Muhit, and Health Secretary Md Kamruzzaman Chowdhury attended the meeting, alongside senior officials.
The premier also ordered full-scale activation of Kusthia Medical College Hospital, a 500-bed facility currently operating partially.
He also directed the immediate commissioning of other hospitals, including the super-specialised facility under Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University in Shahbagh.
Officials were told to remove administrative and operational delays preventing these institutions from functioning at capacity.
China-backed Mega Hospital Fast-tracked
Separately, the Prime Minister instructed accelerated progress on the 1,000-bed Bangladesh–China Friendship Hospital in Nilphamari, calling for engagement with the Chinese Embassy through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to expedite work.
The hospital, planned in Sadar Upazila, is part of the government’s election pledge to establish modern secondary healthcare units in every district.
Health Secretary Kamruzzaman said the hospital, once completed, would serve as a regional referral centre for Rangpur, significantly expanding specialised healthcare access in northern Bangladesh.
