ICCB corona hospital opens tomorrow

The country’s largest hospital for corona patients at the International Convention City Bashundhara (ICCB) in the capital is likely to be inaugurated tomorrow. Health Minister Zahid Maleque and Secretary M Asadul Islam are expected to grace the occasion. High officials of the government and the Bashundhara Group will be present. Sources at the health ministry gave the information over phone to the daily sun on Thursday. Bashundhara Group, a leading business conglomerate of the country, has come forward to establish a makeshift hospital for corona patients at the ICCB. The Health Engineering Department of the government and the Bashundhara Group jointly implemented the project. The dream has come true within three weeks due to their relentless efforts. The government has already appointed two directors to the specialised hospital. Doctors, nurses and other medical staff will be appointed to the hospital soon as the corona infections and deaths are soaring gradually. Earlier, Bashundhara Group Chairman Ahmed Akbar Sobhan sent a written proposal to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to construct a makeshift hospital for coronavirus patients at the ICCB. Bashundhara Group Managing Director Sayem Sobhan Anvir formally tendered the proposal to Prime Minister’s Principal Secretary Dr Ahmed Kaikaus at the PMO. The premier accepted the proposal instantly. Besides, Sayem Sobhan Anvir also donated Tk 100 million to the Prime Minister’s Relief Fund. Initially, the hospital has accommodated 2,084 beds. The number of the beds may increase to 5,000, depending on the number of corona patients. It is learnt that the ICCB will have a 71-bed intensive care unit (ICU). The government will provide medicine, doctors, nurses and supporting staff to facilitate the treatment. Medical cleansing plant is imported from Turkey while the hospital gets oxygen plant from the US Medical ventilators will be supplied from the central medicine reserve of the government. Bashundhara Group has designated its trade centre with 150,000 square feet and four convention centres with 90,000 square feet for the noble cause of treating people infected with the deadly virus which has seriously affected Bangladesh like other parts of the world. Meanwhile, the noble initiative of the Bashundhara Group to convert its trade centre and convention centre into a makeshift hospital has already been acclaimed at home and abroad. Diplomats of different foreign missions and United Nations (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. Besides, United Arab Emirates (UAE)-based newspaper ‘Khaleej Times’ has lauded the noble initiative of Bashundhara Group.