Construction of a 200-seat nursing institute in Pabna, initiated by a public-private partnership, has not yet been completed in seven years. As a result, it is not possible to start formal education activities there. The Public Works Department claims that there is only a little work left.
It is learned that in 2013, the Public Works Department started the construction work of the 200-seat nursing institute with residential facilities for students at a cost of Tk 17.97 crore in a public-private partnership at Pabna Diabetic Hospital in Gachpara area at the entrance of Pabna town.
Out of the total cost of the construction work, the government paid Tk 14.29 crore and Tk 3.64 crore was paid by Pabna Diabetic Association. The construction work of the institute was to be completed in 2018. But even though the construction of the main building of the Nursing Institute was completed by December 2018, the construction of a pump house is still pending. According to a report of Pabna Diabetic Hospital, 99 percent of the construction work has already been completed and only 1 percent of the work is left. So, the newly constructed building has not been handed over to the Diabetic Hospital.
Baby Islam, President of Pabna Diabetic Hospital, said, “Although most of the construction work has been completed, there is still some work to be done. As a result, it was not possible to start the educational activities of this institute in the last two years”.
“The Public Works Department and the Health Department have been repeatedly asked to explain the institution. The Ministry of Health had extended the deadline in two phases to complete the work by June this year, but the Public Works Department did not take any initiative. In this situation, we are skeptical about starting classes in the next academic semester” she said.
Pabna Public Works Department Executive Engineer Anwarul Azim said all the work including construction of the building has been completed.
Construction of a small pump house remains to be completed and then it will be handed over to the Nursing Institute of Pabna Diabetic Hospital as soon as possible, he added.