Voices against CRB hospital project get louder

Protests against the decision on the construction of a private hospital by United Group in the Central Railway Building (CRB) area of Chattogram are getting louder.

Different socio-cultural and political organizations, including the Awami League and Communist Party of Bangladesh, have continued staging protests at the move to build a hospital in the CRB area.

Different committees have already been formed to halt the construction work of the private hospital. The people of Chattogram including freedom fighters and environmental activists are taking part in the protest rally.

Vice-chancellor of Premier University Professor Dr Anupam Sen, also chairman of Nagorik Somaj, said if the government does not withdraw the decision on the construction of the private hospital, they will observe a hunger strike.

Dr Sen said, "The people are continuing protests at the government's move to build a hospital and other structures in the CRB area. We demanded that the project should be relocated. The officials of Bangladesh Railway (BR) and persons concerned misled Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for allocating the land at CRB for building the private hospital. I hope the Prime Minister will consider the demand of Chattogram."

Eminent physician Professor Dr A Q M Serajul Islam also echoed the same. Dr Islam, also vice chairman of Nagorik Somaj said, "The project would have an adverse impact on the environment due to felling of a number of century-old trees. Besides, CRB is a heritage declared by Chittagong Development Authority. So, we have to save CRB."

Advocate Ibrahim Hossain Chowdhury Babul, member secretary of Nagorik Somaj, said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina would not stand against the people of Chattogram. "I hope that the Prime Minister will scrap the deal signed with United Group."

Convenor of CRB Rokkha Moncha and freedom fighter Dr Mahafujur Rahman said, "We are continuing the agitation to save CRB which is a heritage declared by Chittagong Development Authority."

Sources said CRB, the headquarters of Bangladesh Railway's Eastern Zone, is surrounded by hills, hillocks and valleys with a number of century-old trees. It is a habitat for different species of birds and wild animals. People used to go for morning and evening walk at the area. Besides, Shirishtola at CRB area has become a centre for cultural activities.

CRB was built by British rulers as the headquarters of Bengal and Assam Railway in then undivided India in 1895.

It may be mentioned that Bangladesh Railway signed an agreement with United Enterprise and Company Limited on March 18, 2020 to construct a hospital in the CRB area at a cost of about Tk 4 billion under public-private partnership (PPP) initiative. As per the agreement, United Enterprise will build a medical college, a 500-bed hospital and a nursing institute on six acres of land at CRB area and operate those commercially for 50 years.

Chattogram people are now continuing staging protests against the decision of the government on the construction of the private hospital on the railway land in CRB area.

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