Jashore: Prime Minister Tarique Rahman unveiled the foundation stone of the 500-bed Jashore Medical College Hospital at Harinar Beel in the Chachra area of the town today. A munajat (prayer) was offered on the occasion, seeking eternal peace for the departed souls of BNP founder Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman and former three-time Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, as well as for the peace, progress, and prosperity of the country.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Tarique Rahman, who is also the Chairman of the ruling BNP, planted a sapling on the construction site following the ceremony. The event was attended by several notable figures, including Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md Sakhawat Husain, Water Resources Minister Md Shahiduddin Chowdhury Anee, and State Minister Forhad Hossain Azad. Also present were State Minister for Energy and Mineral Resources Aninda Islam Amit, State Minister for LGRD and Cooperatives Mir Shahe Alam, and Nargis Begum, wife of BNP former Vice-Chairman late Tariqul Islam.
The project is a joint effort by the ministries of Health and Family Welfare and Housing and Public Works. During his speech, the Prime Minister emphasized his government’s commitment to ensuring healthcare services reach the people of the country. ‘Our target is to reach the healthcare services to the doorsteps of people as soon as possible,’ he stated. He further highlighted the importance of creating awareness to prevent sickness and build a healthy nation.
Tarique Rahman reiterated the government’s initiatives in the health sector, emphasizing the need for public cooperation to achieve these goals. ‘If the people cooperate with the government, it will be easier for the government to implement the government’s endeavours,’ he said. He expressed hope that healthcare services could soon be delivered efficiently to the people of Bangladesh.
The establishment of a medical college in Jashore was initially approved during the tenure of former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia by the BNP-led four-party alliance government. Although land was acquired, the construction of the medical college hospital faced delays, leading to temporary activities being conducted in the Jashore General Hospital building. The academic activities eventually moved to the college’s own campus at Harinar Beel in 2016, albeit without a hospital.
A movement demanding the establishment of a medical college hospital in Jashore resulted in the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) approving the 500-bed facility on August 29, 2023. A contractor was appointed in June 2025, and since the current BNP government came to power, the construction work has gained significant momentum.