Bangladesh writes to China to inspect 1,000-bed friendship hospital project site
The hospital, planned on about 25 acres beside Darwani Textile Mills in Charaikhola Union along the Syedpur-Nilphamari road, is expected to be built with Chinese grant assistance
The proposed 1,000-bed Bangladesh-China Friendship General Hospital in Syedpur, Nilphamari is awaiting the next visit by a Chinese technical team to conduct a detailed feasibility study after an initial inspection found the proposed site suitable for the project.
The Health Services Division has asked the Economic Relations Division (ERD) to obtain the schedule of the Chinese team's visit from the Chinese Embassy, saying it has yet to receive any information on when the delegation will arrive.
The request was made in a letter dated 29 July, signed by Deputy Secretary Fatima-Tuz-Zohra Thakur.
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According to the letter, a technical team from the China International Development Cooperation Agency (CIDCA) visited Bangladesh from 5 to 14 May. The team inspected the proposed hospital site in Rangpur on 8 May and Nilphamari on 9 May.
At a meeting on 14 May chaired by the Health Services Division secretary, the head of the Chinese delegation said the proposed site was suitable for the hospital as it already had essential infrastructure, including electricity and water.
Health Ministry officials said the team's inspection report will be sent to the Chinese Embassy. Based on its findings, another Chinese technical team is expected to visit Bangladesh to carry out a detailed study before preparing the Investment Project Document (IPD), which will determine the project's cost and scope.
The ministry said neither the Chinese Embassy nor the ERD has so far informed it of the team's visit schedule. It has requested the ERD to contact the embassy so the next phase of the project can proceed.
The hospital, planned on about 25 acres beside Darwani Textile Mills in Charaikhola Union along the Syedpur-Nilphamari road, is expected to be built with Chinese grant assistance. Around 25 to 28 acres of land have already been acquired, according to the Nilphamari Public Works Department.
The project received conditional approval from the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec) on 25 January, but final approval remains pending as Chinese financing has yet to be confirmed.
Once operational, the hospital will offer specialised treatment in oncology, neurology, cardiology, nephrology, and paediatric and neonatal intensive care, along with a 200-machine dialysis centre and advanced diagnostic facilities.
According to the project proposal, the hospital will help ease patient pressure on hospitals in Dhaka while reducing treatment costs for people living in the northern districts.
Nilphamari Civil Surgeon Dr Abdur Razzak told TBS, "Once this hospital is established, people in this region will no longer need to travel to Rangpur or Dhaka for treatment. It will benefit not only the people of Nilphamari but also residents of neighbouring districts such as Panchagarh and Gaibandha."
