Madaripur Nursing College Project worth Tk 33 cr stalled : Contractor flees with Tk 28 cr bill leaving under-construction building
Mir Imran, Madaripur
The modern nursing college project under construction in Shibchar, Madaripur, with the aim of filling the shortage of skilled nurses in the country and improving the quality of healthcare, is now facing uncertainty.
The contractor left the construction work unfinished after showing that 88 percent of the work of this project, which cost 332.5 million taka, was completed and after raising a bill of about 282.5 million taka. As a result, construction work has been stopped for almost two years. The building on the campus where the dream of producing skilled nurses in the future was supposed to be realized, has now become a safe haven for drug addicts and those involved in anti-social activities.
A recent field visit revealed that the entire project area is covered in weeds, vines and bushes. Drug paraphernalia, broken bottles, used syringes, cigarettes and drug remnants are scattered throughout the various rooms of the under-construction building. A foul smell is emanating from inside the building.
The building remains deserted even during the day due to the lack of security personnel or supervision. The area becomes more risky after evening. Locals complain that drug addicts hang out here regularly, as well as theft, vandalism and various anti-social activities. Since the building has been unprotected for a long time, valuable construction materials including electrical equipment, window and door fittings have been stolen from various rooms.
According to sources from the Department of Health Engineering, the construction of the project began on March 10, 2021 in Baro Bahadurpur and Barodoali mouzas of Shibchar upazila. According to the agreement, the work was supposed to be completed by June 20, 2024.
Two contracting companies, M/s MNHCL and HMHE, based in East Sheorapara, Mirpur, were jointly awarded the construction work. The two companies were paid a bill of about Tk 282.5 crore after showing 88 percent progress of the project. However, after the political change, the contracting companies left the work unfinished. Later, it was decided to cancel the activities of the two companies and invite new tenders due to allegations of delay in work and violation of the terms of the contract.
Locals' anger.
Local resident Md. Alamgir Hasan said, "The construction of the building has been stopped since the fall of the Awami League government. No workers or officials have come here for a long time. As it is lying in an unprotected condition, it has now become a hangout for local scoundrels and drug addicts."
Another resident, Sabbir Hossain, said, "The building remains deserted even during the day, and ordinary people are afraid to come here after evening. Due to lack of security, various anti-social activities are going on. We demand from the government that the work be completed quickly and the college be inaugurated."
Like the experts.
Citizens for Good Governance (SUJON) Shibchar Upazila Branch President Abul Khair Khan said, "The demand for skilled nurses in the country is constantly increasing. Yet such a big and important project has been left unfinished for years. If the construction work is completed quickly and the college is launched, skilled nurses will be produced, the manpower crisis in the health sector will be reduced and the common people will get better healthcare."
Authority statement..
Ahsan Habib, Executive engineer of the Madaripur Health Engineering Department, said, "Necessary initiatives have been taken to complete the unfinished work quickly. The concerned contracting company has been blacklisted and the previous tender has been cancelled. Very soon, a new tender will be invited and the remaining construction work will be completed."
Nursing colleges are of immense importance in developing skilled human resources in the healthcare sector. However, since this project, which costs billions of taka, has been idle for a long time, on the one hand, the effective use of government funds has been questioned, and on the other hand, the people are being deprived of the expected healthcare infrastructure.
Locals are demanding that the need for immediate security measures be ensured in the under-construction buildings, increased surveillance by law enforcement agencies to prevent theft, vandalism and violence by drug addicts, and the completion of the remaining construction work quickly and transparently and the opening of Madaripur Nursing College is now the demand of the hour.
