1000-bed hospital in Nilphamari to transform northern regions’ medical care
The 1,000-bed hospital will provide advanced medical services to the local community and surrounding districts, reducing the need to travel to Dhaka or Rangpur for specialised treatment
Highlights:
- Bangladesh-China Friendship Hospital to be built in Nilphamari by 2028
- 1,000-bed facility to provide advanced, specialised medical services
- Project cost Tk1,480 crore, fully funded by Chinese grant
- Hospital to reduce need for northern patients to travel to Dhaka
- Features include dialysis centre, modular theatres, and diagnostic labs
- Part of wider China-backed healthcare projects across Bangladesh
Good news for the people of northern Bangladesh! A modern healthcare facility, the Bangladesh-China Friendship General Hospital, is set to be established in Nilphamari.
The 1,000-bed hospital will provide advanced medical services to the local community and surrounding districts, reducing the need to travel to Dhaka or Rangpur for specialised treatment.
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The health ministry has instructed relevant authorities to prepare a master plan and cost estimates for the project. On 30 October, the Health Services Division issued an "urgent" notice to the public works ministry, emphasising the need for immediate action.
According to officials from the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), the Planning Commission, and the Economic Relations Division (ERD), the project is estimated to cost Tk1,480 crore and is expected to be fully grant-funded. The facility is expected to be completed by 2028.
The hospital will be built on a 25-acre plot adjacent to Darwani Textile Mill in Charaikhola Union under Sadar upazila, along the Saidpur-Nilphamari road.
Md Amanur Rahman, sub-divisional engineer at the Public Works Division in Nilphamari, told The Business Standard that the land has already been acquired, covering approximately 25–28 acres.
Earlier, on 23 August, Health Adviser Nurjahan Begum visited the site adjacent to the Darwani Textile Mill.
Specialised healthcare for patients
During the visit, she said the hospital will provide specialised care in oncology, neurology, cardiology, nephrology, and paediatric and neonatal intensive care.
The facility will feature a dedicated dialysis centre with 200 machines, modular operation theatres, emergency surgical rooms, and a diagnostic block equipped with PET-CT, MRI, and molecular laboratories, the adviser added.
Planning documents highlight the hospital's role in reducing the patient burden on Dhaka's tertiary facilities and cutting travel costs for northern patients.
Dr Abdur Razzak, civil surgeon of Nilphamari, told TBS that the hospital will prevent locals from having to travel to Rangpur or Dhaka for advanced treatment.
He added that residents of nearby districts, including Panchagarh and Gaibandha, will also benefit. The hospital will be just 10–12 kilometres from Saidpur Airport and beside the main road, ensuring excellent connectivity.
At a press event at the Bangladesh Foreign Service Academy on 13 April, Adviser Nurjahan said that the hospital is a gift from the Chinese government to mark five decades of Bangladesh-China diplomatic ties.
At the same event, DGHS Director General Dr Abu Zafar said the facility would be constructed near the Teesta Project in Nilphamari.
Other China-funded healthcare projects
China's support extends to several other healthcare projects.
In South Karnaphuli, Chattogram, feasibility studies are underway for a 500–700-bed general hospital, while a 100-bed rehabilitation centre for patients with disabilities is planned in Dhamrai, on Dhaka's outskirts, Dr Zafar said.
This year, a robotic physiotherapy centre, established at Bangladesh Medical University with the assistance of China government. The centre houses 62 robots, including 22 AI-enabled machines, for precise physiotherapy, neurological rehabilitation and long-term patient care.
The proposed 500–700-bed hospital in Chattogram is estimated at Tk2,627 crore, with Tk1,945 crore expected from China. Planned as a tertiary-level facility, it will combine clinical care, research, and training.
A Nursing College attached to the hospital will address workforce shortages, while supporting services will include CSSD (Central Sterile Supply Department), waste management, telemedicine, digital health records, and a mortuary and forensic unit. Residential facilities for staff and families will be provided.
Dr Zafar emphasised that China has shown strong interest in investing in Bangladesh's health sector and will determine the investment criteria for future projects.
