Photo: BSS

RAJSHAHI, March 31, 2026 (BSS)- After the deaths of children waiting for the 
Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at Rajshahi Medical College and Hospital (RMCH) 
came to light, the government has finally taken the initiative to open the 
long-unused children's hospital, which has remained idle for three years.

This was announced Tuesday by Md. Kamruzzaman Chowdhury, Secretary of the 
Health Services Division at the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
 
During his visit to RMCH, the Health Secretary said, "We will partially open 
the Rajshahi Shishu Hospital within three months. Initially, outpatient 
services will begin, and other services will be launched in the next fiscal 
year."
 
Construction of the 200-bed Rajshahi Children's Hospital began nearly eight 
years ago in the city's Bondogate area, at a cost of Taka 35 crore.
 
The construction was completed three years ago, but no government authority 
took over the hospital, so services could not begin. Meanwhile, due to long-
term neglect, various items in the hospital have been stolen.
 
Because the children's hospital has not opened, the pediatric department of 
RMCH is under extreme pressure.
 
Children from outside Rajshahi, including the Rangpur and Khulna divisions, 
come here for treatment.

With only 200 beds available, about 700 patients are admitted at a time, 
making it extremely difficult for the authorities to manage.

There are only 12 ICU beds for children at RMCH, and there is always a long 
waiting line. Even with a serial number, only 30 to 50 children are called at 
a time.
 
Currently, in addition to other illnesses, contagious diseases have surged 
among children, increasing the demand for ICU beds. In this situation, the 
issue of opening the children's hospital has come back into discussion, as 
the newly-built hospital is also supposed to have 12 ICU beds.
 
Today, during the visit to RMCH, Health Secretary Md. Kamruzzaman Chowdhury 
and Director General of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) 
Professor Dr. Prabhat Chandra Biswas stated that the children's hospital will 
be partially opened within the next three months.

The Secretary also mentioned plans to activate other existing hospital 
infrastructures, including Sadar Hospital and Chest Disease Hospital.