Railways Minister Sheikh Robiul Alam has said that the government is not taking any immediate decision regarding the proposed hospital construction project at CRB in Chattogram.
He said that any future decision will be made through discussions with all relevant stakeholders.
He made the remarks on Sunday evening while speaking to journalists after visiting the proposed site for the hospital in the CRB area of the city.
The minister said, there is no situation where the government is being compelled or is actively proceeding with the construction of a hospital at CRB. However, if any decision is made in the future, it will be taken in consultation with the people of Chattogram.
He mentioned that in the past, proposals were made to construct a 200-bed and later a 500-bed hospital at the site. The project was planned to be implemented under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model and had also received approval. However, it did not move forward due to objections from local residents and civil society.
Regarding the PPP project, the minister said that a deposit had already been made as part of the implementation process at that time. Future decisions on the matter will be taken after discussions with all concerned parties.
He said that a proposal had been placed at the parliamentary standing committee level after consultations with stakeholders and civil society. However, the current government has not yet taken any decision on it.
Responding to a question about constructing the hospital at an alternative location, the minister said, earlier proposals suggested the possibility of building the hospital without harming the environment. However, the government has not yet taken any position on this issue.
The minister also said that there has been no discussion with the Chattogram City Corporation mayor regarding the matter. According to him, the mayor only mentioned that a section of people opposes the construction of a hospital at the site. He added that public opinion and environmental concerns are natural, and any project must be people-friendly and reasonable to be considered.
He emphasized that no project will be undertaken at the cost of environmental damage or putting the residents of Chattogram at risk. However, if a project proves to be beneficial and necessary for public welfare, it will be considered seriously.
Regarding the ongoing protests, the minister said that protests are part of democratic rights. However, he clarified that although the railway authority had previously moved forward under a PPP process, there is currently no reality of the project being implemented.
He also informed that under the current government, there is no scope for leasing railway land for commercial or profit-driven establishments.
Meanwhile, a human chain was formed on Sunday morning at the CRB Seven Roads intersection by the CRB Protection Committee.
The committee’s convener, Dr. Mahfuzur Rahman, said that CRB is a government-declared heritage area, and constructing any private or commercial establishment there would violate the law. He alleged that an influential group is trying to grab the land through this project.
He suggested that if a hospital is needed, it could be built at alternative locations such as the abandoned Haji Camp in Pahartali or the TB Hospital area in Kumira.
According to protesters, CRB is known as the “lungs” of Chattogram, and any damage to it would negatively impact the city’s environmental balance.
Concerned citizens believe that CRB is not just a piece of land but an integral part of Chattogram’s environment, history, and culture. The area, rich in century-old trees, natural water bodies, and biodiversity, would suffer significant environmental damage if detroyed.
