Chandpur’s century-old municipal clinic closes: Poor in peril

A century-old ‘Chandpur Pouro Databbo Chikisaloy’ (Chandpur Municipal Charitable Clinic), a longstanding symbol of primary healthcare in Chandpur district is closed.

Chandpur, Sept 16 - The century-old ‘Chandpur Pouro Databbo Chikisaloy’ (Chandpur Municipal Charitable Clinic), a longstanding symbol of primary healthcare in Chandpur district, has been shut down, leaving the area’s most vulnerable residents struggling for medical care.

The municipal administration said the closure was due to a shortage of doctors and that the hospital would reopen once medical staff are assigned.

Locals reported that the clinic, which serves impoverished communities along the banks of the Meghna River, has remained closed for the past month, sparking frustration among residents who depend on its services.

Many of them live in extreme poverty and are affected by riverbank erosion and all are now calling for the reopening of the 105-year-old facility.

A visit to the clinic in Puran Bazar, Chandpur’s main commercial hub, revealed its historical significance. Established during the British colonial era, the facility has provided medical care for the poor for over a century.

After Bangladesh’s independence, the clinic continued to offer essential treatments, including surgeries, at a nominal fee of just Tk two, earning national recognition as a “beacon of humanity.”

Several elderly residents recalled the clinic’s services over the decades. 75-year-old Habibur Rahman said that while specialist doctors were once available, financial constraints later led to only two municipal health assistants managing basic healthcare services.

Despite this, the clinic remained a critical refuge for minor illnesses, serving around 80 to 90 patients daily.

On Tuesday morning, elderly patients Karimjan and Rahima Begum told UNB that they had been coming to the clinic for doctors’ care for 50 years.

They said that in the past few days they had come and gone, but there were no doctors and the facility remained closed. At their age, they had nowhere else to go and wondered where they would turn if the clinic remained shut.

Local BNP leader Dulal Khan expressed concern, saying, “This century-old municipal facility has been a lifeline for poor people of Chandpur and neighboring riverine areas. People received healthcare for just two taka, and it has gained national attention." 

He went on to say, "We repeatedly requested at least one specialist doctor be appointed, even once a week, alongside infrastructure improvements. Instead, citing a shortage of doctors, the clinic has now been shut down. We urge the municipal administrator and civil surgeon to assign doctors immediately and resume the clinic’s services to restore public confidence and safeguard the government’s image.”

Former Puran Bazar ward No-1 councillor and social worker Nazrul Islam Nazu Bepari said, “Several colonies and riverbank poor communities in Puran Bazar have relied on this charitable clinic for over a hundred years. We do not know why or for what reason it was closed. It must be reopened promptly.”

Freedom fighter and president of the River Erosion Prevention Committee Md. Mujibur Rahman added, “There used to be MBBS doctors here, and health assistants maintained vaccination centers and healthcare."

"Even during the COVID-19 pandemic, the services were commendable. Shutting it down against public interest is wrong. This is the only treatment center for the poor of Puran Bazar. We appeal to the district and municipal administrators for urgent attention,” he mentioned. 

Chandpur Municipal Administrator Md. Golam Zakaria told UNB that the charitable clinic was municipally funded and had been closed due to a lack of doctors. He explained that previously the facility had been managed by two health assistants, but without doctors, patients could not be properly treated.

He added that the issue had been discussed with the civil surgeon and expressed hope that the clinic would reopen once doctors were assigned. Meanwhile, he requested everyone to remain patient until services resumed. - UNB