The Sharankhola Upazila Health Complex in Bagerhat has become dangerously dilapidated, forcing healthcare workers to deliver services under severe risk. A major accident could occur at any time due to the building's deteriorating condition.
Recently, a high-level delegation from Bangladesh's Ministry of Health visited the site and observed the alarming state of the facility.
Md. Enamul Haque, Executive Engineer of the Health Engineering Department (HED) for Gopalganj and Bagerhat, recommended full reconstruction of the health complex after assessing the risks.
According to various sources, the 31-bed facility was established on approximately five acres of land, with construction beginning in 1976 and medical services commencing in 1981. Although repairs have been attempted over the years, most of the infrastructure—including wards, doctors' rooms, emergency units, verandahs, and administrative offices—has fallen into disrepair. Cracks have appeared in the roof’s support pillars, plaster is falling, and rusted rods are now exposed. In one instance, a ceiling fan fell from the women's ward into the nurses' room, narrowly avoiding injury.
Despite repeated notifications to the authorities, no effective action has been taken.
A seven-member monitoring team led by Shah Imam Ali Reza, Joint Secretary (Planning) of the Health Services Division and convenor of the SDG-3 Mid-Term Review Team from the World Health Organization, visited the complex. The delegation also included Joint Secretary (Health-4) Md. Rafiqul Islam Selim, Deputy Secretary Md. Abdul Aziz, Director of Administration from the Health Economics Unit Dr. Muhammad Shawkat Hossain Khan, Deputy Secretary (Health-6) Ms. Monira Parvin, Deputy Director of the Directorate General of Health Services Dr. Md. Sekandar Ali Molla, and Dr. Md. Tawfiq Hasan Shawon.
They closely examined the dilapidated structure and held a discussion regarding the ongoing issues. Sharankhola Upazila Nirbahi Officer Sudipta Kumar Singh, Upazila Health and Family Planning Officer Dr. Priyo Gopal Biswas, and Sharankhola Press Club President Sheikh Mohammad Ali also participated in the discussion.
During the visit, Joint Secretary Shah Imam Ali Reza stated that a proposal would be submitted to the Ministry of Health for constructing a new building.
A separate technical inspection was also conducted by the HED team, including Assistant Engineers Md. Kamran Hossain Babu and Sajal Kormokar. After the inspection, Executive Engineer Md. Enamul Haque warned that continuing services in the current structure could lead to fatal accidents. He recommended relocating services to the adjacent OPD building and confirmed that previous official letters had already advised against using the current facility.
Dr. Priyo Gopal Biswas added that the hospital often houses 70–80 in-patients, and the risk to staff and patients is growing. Emergency care continues in the damaged wing due to space constraints, and the matter has been repeatedly reported to higher authorities.
