Corona hospital at ICCB likely to be ready by Apr 23

Construction work of the country’s largest makeshift hospital for corona patients at International Convention City Bashundhara (ICCB) in the capital is progressing fast.

Top officials of Health Engineering Department of the government have visited the site and expressed satisfaction with the pace of the construction work.

In the wake of corona pandemic, the country’s largest business conglomerate Bashundhara Group has come forward to construct a hospital at ICCB for the time being. After the corona problem is over, the convention centre will return to its previous condition housing various local and international fairs and other events, sources said.

Bashundhara Group proposed that the government should set up the temporary hospital at the ICCB which is enriched with all facilities, including one for airlifting.

Health Engineering Department (HED) Executive Engineer Masudul Alam visited the ICCB and inquired about the construction work on Saturday.

Later, he expressed satisfaction with the pace of the construction work while talking to the journalists on the premises.

“The pace of construction work of the hospital is satisfactory. Around 75 percent work of isolation unit has been completed. Required beds have arrived. Air condition and toilets facilities are being increased. Besides, the rooms for doctors and nurse are about to be ready,” Masudul said.

The Health Engineering Department of the government is supervising the 2000-bed hospital's construction work, including setting up of isolation   

centres and intensive care units (ICUs).

Enriching the ICCB with hospital facilities goes on in full swing to receive corona patients as soon as possible.

Around 75 percent work was completed as of Saturday, said reliable sources, adding major logistics will be available by Sunday.

The Health Engineering Department officials are optimistic about getting the makeshift hospital ready by April 23.

On Friday, ICCB Chief Executive MM Jasim Uddin told the daily sun that necessary logistics will be ensured within four days and the hospital is likely to go into operation by April 25.

Earlier, Bashundhara Group Chairman Ahmed Akbar Sobhan had sent a written proposal to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to set up a makeshift hospital at the ICCB for corona patients.

Bashundhara Group Managing Director Sayem Sobhan Anvir formally tendered the proposal to Prime Minister’s Principal Secretary Dr Ahmed Kaikaus at the PMO. The prime minister accepted the proposal instantly. Anvir also donated Tk 10 crore to Prime Minister’s Relief Fund.

The Group has dedicated its trade centre with 1,50,000 square feet and four convention centres with 90,000 square feet for the noble cause of treating patients infected with the deadly virus which has crippled Bangladesh like other parts of the globe.

It is learnt that the ICCB will have a 2000-bed hospital with 71 intensive care units. The government will provide medicine, doctors, nurses and supporting staffs to facilitate the treatment.

Medical cleansing plant is being imported from Turkey while the hospital will get oxygen plant from the US. Medical ventilators will be supplied from the central medicine reserve of the government.

Bashundhara Group will provide utilities -- gas, water and power supply for the hospital.

The initiative of Bashundhara Group to convert its trade centre and convention centres into a hospital has already been acclaimed at home and abroad.

Diplomats of different foreign missions and UN agencies in Dhaka have highly appreciated the Bashundhara Group’s initiative. They said the country’s largest hospital will contribute greatly to the treatment of coronavirus patients.

United Arab Emirates (UAE)-based newspaper Khaleej Times has lauded Bashundhara Group’s noble initiative.

SOURCE : Daily Sun