Manjur Morshed Tuhin, Patuakhali

Though the construction work of Rangabali Upazila Health Complex in Patuakhali has started in the 56th year of independence, but the work has been stopped midway for the last nine months.

All the people of the remote island demanded completion of the work as soon as possible.

Rangabali Upazila of Patuakhali is an isolated island at the foot of the Bay of Bengal. About 100,000 people live in the 343 square kilometer island, but in 56 years of independence, the people here are still in health risk. If someone is sick, it is extremely difficult to bring patients from Rangabali, which is surrounded by rivers and seas, to the mainland. It is almost impossible for the people of that region to cross the river at night. In addition, the mainland communication with the people of this region is somehow cut off during hostile weather or rainy season. Therefore, to avoid the health risks of the people of this region, the Directorate of Health Engineering published a tender notice for the construction of a health complex with 50 decorations on 5 acres of land in the fiscal year 2022-23.

According to the information of the concerned department, among the two lots, the work order value of the first lot is 12 crore 67 lakh 28 thousand taka, the work order value of the second lot is 8 crore 16 lakh 54 thousand taka, the work is about 21 crore taka. The contractor for the first lot is AKA-PC (JV) Abul Kalam Azad, Prime Construction. The contractor for the second lot is AKA-PC-MAE (JV) Abul Kalam Azad, Prime Construction, M/s Ayan Enterprises. Both the works commissioned on 10th April 2023 were for one year. The work is closed from the first week of July 2024. The contracting firms withdraw equal amounts in favor of 53.60℅ physical work of the first lot and 57.63% of the physical work of the second lot within a period of one year.

It can be seen from the site inspection, among the visible works, three roofs of the four-storied hospital building and some walls of the ground floor have been completed. Also, several works including two quarter buildings and a sub-station, traffic roads, boundary walls are partially closed. All the external rods are rusted and blackened. As the casting of Bheem-Column on each floor does not have complete vibration, the voids are plastered later. Anyone can tell by looking at the poor quality bricks in visible brick masonry. The space below the building from the piling to the first floor floor is not filled with sand. Also, the sub station and quarter buildings are left with only partial works including stairs.

Farida Begum, a local resident, said, "There is no hospital in Rangabali, it is very unfortunate for us. We are people in danger because of the river around us, even if a person gets sick and dies, we cannot cross because of the river. We need this hospital very much, once it opens, our misery will be over. I don't know why the work is stopped. I request the government to start the hospital soon.

Farooq Hossain, a local resident, said that if the work is left in the middle like this, the quality of the building and the goods left in the sun and rain will deteriorate due to the lack of plaster paint outside. See how the rods are getting damaged.

Patuakhali Civil Surgeon Dr. SM Kabi Hasan said, the work under construction to open the Rangabali Upazila Health Complex is currently closed. In order to start it quickly, we have continued to communicate with the Health Directorate through the Directorate of Health Engineering and Engineering and once we understand the building, we will be able to start the health service activities of the Upazila Health Complex by supplying the goods and manpower.

Md. Altab Hossain, Executive Engineer of Patuakhali Health Engineering Directorate, said that the period of the operation plan of the fourth phase from the Health Engineering Directorate was 2019-2023 for five years. As much work as possible has been done.

The work has been stopped until the operation plan for the fifth term is put in place. If the government wants, it is possible to restart the work by giving funds which are outside the operation plan.