Residents of Chattogram, the country's most important urban centre next to the capital, have voiced their displeasure over plans to build a 500-bed hospital as well as a medical college over six acres of land in a historic corner of the city, that is also cherished for its greenery.

The CRB area, that takes its name from the Central Railway Building - built by the British colonial administration in 1872 as the headquarters of the Assam-Bengal Railway - is a scenic, hilly quarter of the Port City known for its Shireesh trees (Albizia Lebeck)  Surrounded by centuries-old trees, hills, hills and valleys, this area is home to a variety of species of birds and animals.

Chattogram residents celebrate the Bengali New Year on April 14 every year on an open stage called "Shireeshtala" at CRB area. CRB also hosts the famed "Boli Khela", an annual freehand wrestling challenge that draws competitors from far and wide. 

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Besides, ordinary citizens of all ages and backgrounds gather in the area every day to catch the fresh air.

It's not as if Chatdgaiyas are spoilt for choice when it comes to medical facilities in the city. The trading hub's moneyed residents routinely have to visit Dhaka to avail the services available at large, private hospitals. This demand for private healthcare has now been noticed. Earlier this year, Evercare Hospitals opened a 470-bed facility in the Ananna R/A of Chattogram. Evercare have also taken over the old Apollo Hospital in Dhaka from the STS Group. 

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Recently it emerged that Bangladesh Railway, which owns much of the land in the CRB area, struck a deal in March 2020 with United Enterprise and Company (owners of United Hospital in Dhaka) to build a 500-bed hospital and 100-seat medical college on six acres of land in CRB.

The idea to build a hospital under Private Public Partnership in CRB was first broached at a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) on August 14, 2013.
The committee's approval for such a project would have to wait seven years, till February 2020. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina gave her all-important approval the same month.

However, residents of the Port City got a rude shock when they came to learn about it on a signboard that appeared at the intended site some weeks ago. Nobody who came to know about it seemed to have their spirits lifted by it. Their disgruntlement was always bubbling under the surface. 

Over the last week, the disgruntlement turned into a movement against the hospital planned at CRB, and kept gaining momentum. On Friday, they held rallies, a tree plantation program, formed a human chain and even engaged in other forms of revolt all day.

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A legal notice has already been sent to concerned individuals  including the Cabinet Secretary, Secretary of the Ministry of Railways, Director General of Bangladesh Railways and a few others by the Bangladesh Human Rights Foundation’  on behalf of the protestors to remove the hospital site elsewhere.

“We will not allow authorities to build concrete rubbish on this site of great scenic beauty,” the agitated protestors told UNB.

According to a list prepared by Chittagong Development Authority (CDA), places and installations like CRB have been asked to be preserved in order to maintain historical, aesthetic and environmental balance. The people of Chittagong will not accept anything less, they said.

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Meanwhile, representatives of environmental organizations as well as conscious civil society have spoken out against it. They claim that if there is any construction on the site, the trees and green forests will be destroyed, which might have disastrous consequences for the city of 1.25 crore people.

Besides, some experts shed light on the fact that the country lacks proper skills for hospital waste disposal / management and Chattogram is no exception. They fear that not only the environment, but hundreds of food stalls and businesses which grew up centering CRB might be in jeopardy because of it.

Prominent environmentalist and Karnafuli researcher Idris Ali said, "I don't understand why CRB was chosen even though there are many places in Chittagong where hospitals can be set up. There are many trees here, including the Centennial Roar and Raintree.  This place plays the most pivotal role in maintaining the ecological balance of the city."  

Calling on the concerned authorities to rethink about the project, Aminul Haque Babu, Governor of the Bangladesh Human Rights Commission, said that the current environment and nature of CRB will be ruined due to commercial activities, increase in public gatherings and medical waste if a hospital is established.

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“It should not it be allowed to happen,” he added.

Professor Mohammad Kamal Uddin of the Institute of Forest and Environment at Chittagong University said, " The natural environment of the CRB was not created overnight. It has developed over a hundred years. But all arrangements have been made to destroy it overnight.”

He said CRB has also gained recognition as a tourist spot. People from outside Chittagong also come here to enjoy the natural beauty. Considering all these, the decision to set up a hospital here is very unreasonable.

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While contacted,sources within Chattogram Development Authority-CDA told UNB that no one yet asked for their approval to build a hospital in CRB.

“ As it is reserved as a protected area and a heritage zone under the port city masterplan, no commercial building on CRB would be approved,” they said.

In this regard, CDA Chief Engineer Kazi Hassan bin Shams said,” Under no circumstances will we allow the construction of commercial buildings on a heritage zone. If anyone wants to build a hospital I would request them to contact us. There are several other suitable places.”

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Chattogram Metropolitan Awami League vice-president Khorshed Alam Sujan said,” Many railway lands were illegally occupied. The people of Chittagong will not have any objection if they rescue it and build a commercial facility there. But I am with the people who are objecting to the construction of a hospital in the CRB area.”

When contacted, Ahsan Jabir, project director of the hospital and additional chief engineer (tracks) of the Eastern Railway, said United Hospital had prepared the design of the hospital as per the agreement and submitted it to the authorities. If the square design is approved, the field level work of the project will start.

He added that United authorities had hired a consultant to assess the damage to the environment if the hospital was built. The consultant shall advise on an appropriate course of action, or remedy for the company to offer. Moreover, care will be taken not to cut down the hundred-year-old trees for constructing the hospital. Or so they say.

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Meanwhile, Bangladesh Railway has stated that it has taken a strong stand for the construction of a hospital and a medical college in the CRB area of Chittagong city, despite fears of damage to nature and the environment. The organization has also opposed the negative news published in the media about the construction of the hospital.