Old buildings of Dhaka Medical College will be replaced with new ones: PM Sheikh Hasina

"We cannot afford to preserve many of those hundred-year old buildings as we don't know when the ancient structures would collapse on our heads, creating a devastating catastrophe," she said.

"Many quarters advocate for preservation of heritage. But it's not possible to preserve every old buildings in the name of preservation of heritage," the Prime Minister said while laying the foundation of Sheikh Hasina National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery at city's Chankharpool area on Wednesday.

However, the Prime Minister said, the "government would certainly protect the heritage, which is as much as necessary for us and possible to protect by applying modern technology."

Life is more important than heritage and it's the government's responsibility to protect public lives, she said.

"Many people might come up with harsh criticism against the government for this decision. But, I will do everything which brings welfare and benefit for the people of the country," Sheikh Hasina said.

The burn and plastic surgery institute is being constructed at estimated cost of Taka 522 crore as part of the present government's plan to provide modern treatment facilities to the patients of burn injuries, create expert medical persons and research.

The Prime Minister said the institute equipped with most modern equipment would be a centre of excellence for treatment, research and studies. The institute with 500 beds, 50 intensive care unit and 12 operating theatres will be the largest burn and plastic surgery institute in the world, she hoped.

Minister for Health and Family Welfare Mohammad Nasim, State Minister Dr Zahid Malek, Mayor of Dhaka South City Corporation Sayeed Khokon, Chief of Army Staff General Abu Belal Muhammad Shafiul Huq, Coordinator of the Burn Units Professor Dr Samanta Lal Sen and Secretary of the health ministry Syed Monjurul Islam spoke, among others, on the occasion.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said the government would take project for establishment of burn unit in every hospital across the country, and critical patients from those hospitals would be referred to the institute.

She extended thanks to the doctors of the burn and plastic surgery unit of DMCH, particularly its coordinator Dr Samanta Lal Sen, for their relentless services when flow of injured people filled in the burn unit becoming victim of the arson attacks of BNP-Jammat activists in 20014 and 2015.

"None could escape from their brutality. Innocent travelers, school teachers, students, women, children, polling officers, engineers, power station employees, members of police, BGB and army became the victim of their cruel politics," she said.

"At that time I have seen their services and devotion to save life of the patients. They have given new life to many people through their relentless services," Sheikh Hasina said adding that it was the real translation of dedication and service of a medical person for which they are oath-bound.

Lambasting BNP-Jamaat for such brutality on common people, Sheikh Hasina said they even could not understand that burning people or set fire on transports and properties cannot be the part of political movement. "Now how they expect that people would again support them," Sheikh Hasina asked.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said, "Bangladesh is an independent nation which the nation has achieved to materialize some specific dream. As an independent nation, the responsibility bestows upon the government to fulfill people's basic needs, which Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman clearly articulated in the constitution."

Sheikh Hasina said after independence, Bangabandhu invited US orthopedic surgeon RJ Gust to Bangladesh and as he suggested Bangabandhu invited famous Indian plastic surgeon Dr. P Bejleel to Bangladesh.

"The national orthopedic hospital was established at Bangabandhu's initiative for treatment of the Freedom Fighters who sustained injures during the nine month long War of Liberation," she said.

"Construction of 10-bed hospital in every union was one of the few steps Father of the Nation had taken to reach the healthcare facilities to the doorstep of the people, but people denied getting the facilities with other basic needs after his brutal killing," she added.

Following the killing of Bangabandhu, nothing was done for people's welfare in any sector including health, except repeated coup, killing and attempt to acquire wealth in unfair means. The progress of the nation completely became standstill and hurling bombs became a common phenomenon after 1975.

Sheikh Hasina said many leaders and workers of her party were injured during democratic movement and they had got admitted at DMCH after 1975. But they were deprived of proper treatment in lack of medicare facilities.

"It persuaded me to take programmes for improvement of healthcare services for the poor if I get any opportunity in future," she said adding that her government has initiated the process after coming to power in 1996.

"The government wants paradigm shift of the healthcare system to build communication with renowned foreign hospitals and institutes and ensure modern treatment facilities for the people," she said.

At that time, she said, the Awami League government had taken under the project for construction of community clinics in every village along with establishing specialized hospitals. The government had also taken project for construction of the second unit of DMCH, burn unit and trauma centre. But all those projects faced debacle following change of power in 2001 with BNP-Jamaat government assumed power, she said.

Sheikh Hasina said the 15-storied institute building will be linked with the burn unit of DMCH with a foot over bridge or underpass to facilitate easy shifting of the patients and movement of the doctors, nurses and staffs from the burn unit to the institute. "Bangladesh Army has been given the task of constructing of the institute building aimed at quick completion of the project," she said.

Health Minister extended his thanks to the Prime Minister and Jatir Janak Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Memorial Trust for the consent to name the national institute after Sheikh Hasina. The health ministry has decided to name the institute after Sheikh Hasina in recognition to her devotion for development of burn and plastic surgery healthcare system and constant services to the patients of burn injured people particularly the persons sustained severe burn injuries during arson attacks of some opposition political parties in 2014 and 2015, Nasim said.

Photo: Saiful Islam Kallol