Sunamganj hospital remains out of service for a decade after inauguration

A 20-bed government hospital in Jagdal under Dirai upazila has remained virtually non-functional for nearly a decade after its inauguration, leaving thousands of people across three upazilas without basic healthcare.
Although the hospital built at the cost of Tk8 crore, was inaugurated twice by senior government leaders, including former ministers, indoor and outdoor medical services have yet to begin fully due to an acute shortage of doctors, nurses, medical equipment and other staff.
Local residents said the prolonged closure has forced people from six remote unions of Dirai, Jagannathpur and Shantiganj upazilas to travel long distances to Sunamganj district hospital or nearby health complexes for even basic treatment, causing severe hardship, particularly during medical emergencies.
According to the Dirai Upazila Health Complex, construction of the hospital began in 2003 on a three-acre site at Jagdal. The first phase, built at a cost of around Tk7 crore, was inaugurated by the then railway minister Suranjit Sengupta on 23 October 2013. Following renovation work worth another Tk1 crore, the hospital was inaugurated again on 20 February 2021 by the then planning minister MA Mannan.
However, of the hospital's 17 approved posts, 14 have remained vacant for years. Essential diagnostic facilities, including X-ray, ECG and ultrasonography, are also unavailable. A visit to the hospital found the indoor unit locked and unused. Steel beds, mattresses, air conditioners and government-supplied medical materials, including gauze, bandages, syringes and cotton, were found lying unused in storage rooms, while birds have nested inside parts of the building.
Residents expressed frustration over what they described as a waste of public money. "We have to travel to Dirai, Shantiganj or the district town for treatment despite having a hospital in our area," said Nazim Mia, a resident of Jagdal village.
Jamila Begum of nearby Eker village said women, especially expecting mothers, are forced to travel long distances for delivery and emergency care because the hospital remains closed.
Jagdal Union Parishad Chairman Humayun Rashid said it was unacceptable that a hospital built with crores of taka remained locked due to manpower shortages. Jagdal High School Principal Mustafa Kamal Pasha said poor and marginalised families continued to suffer because the hospital had failed to provide healthcare despite its infrastructure.
Meanwhile, Dirai Upazila Health and Family Planning Officer Dr Debashish Roy said his office had repeatedly requested the health authorities to appoint the required manpower and provide equipment to make the hospital operational.
Sunamganj Civil Surgeon Dr Jasim Uddin said the process of launching the hospital was underway and proposals had been sent to the Health Department seeking doctors, other staff and the necessary budget. He expressed hope that the hospital would become fully operational once the required manpower and resources were approved.