CCC, army to jointly build int’l-standard hospital in Ctg

Chattogram City Corporation (CCC) and the Bangladesh Army will jointly build an "international-standard" hospital in the port city, aiming to provide quality healthcare at affordable costs to the general public.

The announcement came on Tuesday at the seventh general meeting of the committee formed to ensure smooth operations of the city corporation, held at the CCC office at Tiger-pass in the port city Chattogram. The Mayor Dr Shahadat Hossain made the disclosure while presiding over the meeting.

The meeting approved a land exchange proposal between CCC and the army as part of the hospital plan. Under the decision, CCC will lease its eight acres of land on the FIDC Road in Kalurghat for 99 years, while the army will lease 2.8612 acres of land at Alamsah Katgar under the Dampaara area to CCC for the same duration.

On the proposed hospital, the mayor said the army-run hospitals in Dhaka and other parts of the country are known for high standards of service and management. "Chattogram urgently needs such a facility," he said, noting that the memorandum of understanding includes conditions to ensure international-standard treatment at low cost for ordinary citizens.

CCC PLANS TO TAKE OTHER PROJECTS

During the meeting, the mayor outlined plans to utilise the Kalurghat land for projects such as an ICT building, a large commercial market and a possible China Town-style development. He said these initiatives could significantly boost CCC's revenue and support long-term urban development.

The meeting also approved the acquisition of three educational institutions: Patharghata Girls' High School, Baklia Adarsha Girls' High School and Jalkhili National Housing Authority High School. On education and health, the mayor said subsidies in both sectors have been increased to help transform the next generation into skilled human resources. However, he acknowledged that CCC's current financial capacity is insufficient to fully ensure citizens' rights to education and healthcare.

As a result, CCC has taken a tougher stance on collecting due revenues from entities such as Bangladesh Railway, Chittagong Port Authority, oil companies, large industries and corporate bodies. "Urban development and civic services are directly linked to revenue collection," the mayor said.

MAJOR GAP IN TOLL, TAX COLLECTION

He pointed out a major gap in holding tax collection from Chittagong Port. While CCC should receive around Tk 2.64 billion annually, it currently collects only about Tk 450 million.

Allegations suggest that illegal toll collections in the port area range from Tk 20 million to Tk 25 million per day, amounting to roughly Tk 7.2 billion a year, while the city corporation remains deprived of its lawful municipal taxes. The mayor said a joint survey is underway to determine actual tax liabilities, warning that no concessions would be given in this process.

On road infrastructure, he said most city roads are designed to handle a maximum load of 10 tonnes, but port vehicles routinely carry 20 to 35 tonnes, sometimes more than three times the approved limit. This excessive load, he said, severely damages roads meant to last three to five years, forcing CCC to spend an estimated Tk four-five billion annually on repairs and maintenance. Proper collection of holding tax from the port would help fund sustainable road repairs and ultimately improve port operations as well, he added.

DEVELOPMENT ISSUES IN CCC

The meeting also discussed a wide range of development issues, including upgrading primary roads under CCC; modernising and greening open spaces; maintenance and re-excavation of canals implemented by the Chattogram Development Authority; re-excavation of 21 city canals; introduction of a smart traffic system; and the feasibility of constructing underpasses with commercial spaces at key junctions.

CCC'S OTHER DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVES

Three acres of land at the Kazir Dewri Children's Park have been allocated to CCC for 30 years, strictly for use as a park.

Mayor Dr Shahadat Hossain said, the Kazir Dewri Children's Park would soon be reopened, calling it a long-cherished demand of city residents. He stressed that the park would remain a fully green and an open space with no permanent structures or commercial establishments. "A park will remain a park," he said, adding that it would offer walking spaces and playing facilities for children.

The mayor also announced a mass dog vaccination programme, under which around 12,000 dogs across the city will be vaccinated between January 5 and 9.

The meeting was attended by CCC Acting Chief Executive Officer and Secretary Md Ashraful Amin, along with departmental and branch heads and representatives of various agencies.

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