867 patients in 250-bedded hospital, Minister expresses anger
Photo: Agamir Somoy
A total of 867 patients are currently receiving treatment at the 250-bedded Jamalpur General Hospital, several times its capacity. Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister M Rashiduzzaman Millat expressed anger and astonishment after seeing three newborns sharing a single incubator and medical services being provided in a building declared abandoned in 2021.
After inspecting the hospital on Saturday (September 5) afternoon, the minister told journalists, “If I have had the worst experience of my life anywhere, it has been at this hospital. I had no idea that such a situation existed anywhere in Bangladesh.”
Describing his experience after seeing the hospital’s condition, M Rashiduzzaman Millat said, “One of the worst experiences of my life happened today when I came to this hospital. I have seen hospitals before, but I have never seen such a situation. This hospital was established during the tenure of Begum Khaleda Zia as prime minister. No work has been done here in the past 20 years. Three decades later, a hospital that is supposed to accommodate 250 patients now has 867. I was deeply astonished to see their inhumane condition. I have never witnessed such a scenario in my life.”
He added, “I do not think there is another hospital anywhere in Bangladesh in such a condition. There should not be. All the beds here are on the floor.”
The minister also expressed anger over the condition of the children’s ward. “They are putting three babies in an incubator meant for one baby. It is so filthy,” he said.
He said he would investigate whether funds and equipment allocated for patients at the hospital were being properly utilized. “I have a suspicion here, and I will investigate it. This is a 250-bed hospital. The government provides food and equipment for 750 patients—250 for this hospital and 500 for the Jamalpur Medical College Hospital. The government provides funds for these 750 beds. I will investigate whether this money is being properly used for the patients,” the minister said.
He added, “I will hold a meeting of the coordination committee here. At that meeting, I will ask questions. I will also ask why those responsible, those who failed to carry out their duties, should not be punished.”
Referring to the dangerous condition of the hospital building, the minister said, “This building was declared abandoned in 2021, yet patients are still being treated here.”
The 250-bed Jamalpur General Hospital has long been treating several times more patients than its capacity. A report published in 2025 said that between 900 and 1,000 patients were admitted to the hospital every day.
Jamalpur Superintendent of Police Mst Farhana Yasmin, Civil Surgeon Dr Mohammad Azizul Haque, Assistant Director Mohammad Mahfuzur Rahman Sohan, and leaders and activists of the district and upazila units of the BNP and its affiliated organizations were present during the minister’s inspection.
