Bangladesh Seeks Chinese Grant for Two Major Hospitals in Chattogram and Rangpur

Following discussions with Beijing, the Bangladeshi government has formally submitted one grant proposal to China and is preparing another, requesting a total of Tk3,425 crore to fund the construction of two major hospitals — one in Chattogram and another in Rangpur Division.

According to officials from the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), Planning Commission, and Economic Relations Division (ERD), the total estimated cost for both projects is Tk4,107 crore.

• The Chattogram hospital, to be built in Hathazari Upazila, will have 500–700 beds and an estimated cost of Tk2,627 crore, with Tk1,945 crore expected from Chinese grant funding.

• The Rangpur facility, a 1,000-bed hospital, is projected at Tk1,480 crore and is expected to be fully funded by China.

Officials said both hospitals are targeted for completion by 2028. The preliminary project proposal (PDPP) for the Rangpur hospital has already been sent to China, while the Chattogram project has received planning approval and been forwarded to the ERD for foreign funding.

An ERD official, speaking on condition of anonymity, noted, “The Rangpur PDPP has been shared with China as agreed between the two governments. A formal grant proposal for Chattogram will follow after the scheduled ERD meeting next month.”

Background
The push for Chinese-funded hospitals follows visa complications after the 5 August regime change, which disrupted Bangladeshi patients’ access to treatment in India. China responded by offering medical services through Kunming hospitals and pledged support for three hospitals in Bangladesh.

Discussions started during a foreign adviser’s visit to China in January, followed by a 19 February ERD meeting identifying three projects for Chinese support. These include:

1. Chattogram general hospital

2. Rangpur hospital near the Teesta project

3. Rehabilitation hospital in Dhamrai, Dhaka

Officials say these projects aim to create a medical city in northern Bangladesh, a women’s hospital in the south, and a geriatric hospital in the east, expanding access to specialised care outside Dhaka.

Chattogram Hospital Details
The proposed Bangladesh-China Friendship General Hospital in Chattogram will be a tertiary care facility integrating clinical services, research, and training.

Key features include:

• Specialised units in cardiology, neurology, nephrology, and infectious diseases

• ICUs, HDUs, dialysis, and cardiac care

• Fully equipped dental unit, modern outpatient department, 24/7 emergency services, and surgical theatres

• Advanced diagnostics including MRI, CT scan, and laboratories

• An attached Nursing College and staff residential facilities

• Supporting services like waste management, telemedicine, digital health records, and mortuary/forensic unit

The hospital is expected to serve Chattogram city’s 3.2 million residents and the surrounding district population of over nine million, easing the 130% occupancy burden at Chattogram Medical College Hospital.

Rangpur Hospital Details
The Rangpur hospital will focus on specialised healthcare for northern Bangladesh, covering oncology, neurology, cardiology, nephrology, and paediatric/neonatal intensive care.

Facilities include:

• Dialysis centre with 200 machines, plus an additional 1,000 machines nationwide

• Modular operation theatres and emergency surgical rooms

• Diagnostic block with PET-CT, MRI, and molecular laboratories

The project aims to reduce reliance on Dhaka’s tertiary hospitals, lower patient travel costs, and improve access to advanced treatment in northern Bangladesh.

Officials emphasized that both hospitals will expand healthcare capacity, strengthen training and research, and improve emergency services, while addressing regional disparities in access to high-quality medical care.