Officials feel insecure as cracks develop in newly-built Godagari Health Complex

RAJSHAHI, Oct 9: Serious cracks have developed on the walls and stairs of newly constructed building at Godagari Health Complex at Premtali under Godagari upazila.  The two storied building which was built at a cost of taka four crore 23 lakh (42.3 million) developed cracks in every room of the ground floor and various places up to the first floor of the staircase.

Officials and employees of the Health Complex complained, the activities of the complex at this building started just one month ago and now they are all feeling insecure in working under the roof of the building.

According to sources, in 2010-2011 Godagari Health Complex was upgraded to 50-bed capacity from the former 30-bed. Department of Health Engineering Department finished building the newly part two storied hospital in March 2011 and activities at the ground floor of the building started just one month ago. After entering into all 12 rooms and wards of the building, officials and employees of the hospital watched 'grave cracks' on the walls of the building as well as on the stairs up to the first floor.

It is learnt, a construction farm entitled Sadia Traders won the work order of construction of the building. There are allegations that managing the former Health and Family Planning Officer of the Health Complex and the Executive Engineer of Health Engineering department of Rajshahi contractor Ripon Haji constructed the building by using low grade and low-quantity construction materials that is why the building developed faults before its inauguration.

It is further gathered that Mahfuzul Islam, an engineer had been working for the first few months as supervisor during the construction works of the building. When Mahfuzul protested using low grade and low-quantity of construction material for works, the contractor and his men manhandled and forced him to flee from the site. Later on, Executive Engineer of HED ASM Saidul Alam himself supervised the works of the building.

Mokseda Khatun, a female Health Inspector of Premtali Health Complex who works at a room of the ground floor informed, just one month ago they started to work under this new building. Works of some section of the hospital including the activities of 'Out Door' are being held in this building. She mentioned, all the staff working under the roof were afraid by watching the cracks at the first sight after opening the main gate of the building. She further said, she and other staff of the hospital are feeling utterly insecure in working under such cracked building.

Dr. Mohammad Hossain Ali, Health and Family Planning Officer of Godagari Health Complex informed, he joined the hospital after the construction works of the building was finished that is why he cannot comment about it. He further said, local Member of Parliament and the Civil Surgeon of Rajshahi have been informed about the cracks.

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