Suffering of Chandpur's common people intensifies

CHANDPUR, Sept 11: A century-old charitable dispensary run by the Chandpur Municipality has remained closed for over a month due to the absence of doctors, leaving hundreds of residents in the Puranbazar area of the district deprived of low-cost healthcare.
The dispensary, which has been providing basic treatment and medicines at a nominal fee of Tk 2.00 per patient, served as a critical health service point for underprivileged communities. Its sudden closure has sparked concern among locals, many of whom cannot afford treatment from private clinics or distant government hospitals.
An elderly resident shared, "Before and after the country's independence, renowned doctors such as Dr Minhajuddin, Dr Abul Khayer Golder, and Dr Abdul Hye Akhand served here. Later, two health assistants managed the dispensary, offering primary healthcare to the poor."

Until recently, two health assistants - Belayet Hossain and Biplob Roy - were running the facility. Their sudden withdrawal has led to the indefinite closure of the dispensary, leaving patients, especially those from remote char areas, without medical support.
Chandpur Municipality Administrator Md Golam Jakaria told The Financial Express (FE), "The dispensary has been closed due to the unavailability of a doctor. We have already requested the Civil Surgeon of Chandpur to assign a doctor as soon as possible. Once a doctor is posted, we will reopen the dispensary. Without a doctor, how can proper treatment be ensured?"
A recent visit by this correspondent revealed a disheartening scene. A few patients arrived at the dispensary only to find it locked. "We always come here for medicine and treatment at just Tk 2.00," said a disappointed local. "Now it's shut, and we have nowhere to go. Other hospitals are far and unaffordable."
Local figures including veteran freedom fighter and former banker Mujibur Rahman, social worker Dulal Khan, former municipal councillor Nazrul Islam, and poet Ashik Bin Rahim have urged the authorities to take immediate action to resume services at the dispensary and ease the suffering of the common people.
Speaking to The Financial Express, former health assistants Belayet Hossain Raju and Biplob Roy stated that the dispensary used to serve 70 to 100 patients daily. "People from distant char areas depended on this facility. Now they're returning empty-handed for over a month," they added.
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