Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has laid the foundation stone of a 500-bed Jashore Medical College Hospital at Harinar Beel in the Chachra area of Jashore.
A munajat (prayer) was offered on the occasion, seeking eternal peace for BNP founder Ziaur Rahman and former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, along with prayers for peace, progress, and prosperity of the country.
The Prime Minister later planted a sapling at the construction site.
Among those present were Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md Sakhawat Husain, Water Resources Minister Md Shahiduddin Chowdhury Anee, State Minister Forhad Hossain Azad, State Minister for Energy and Mineral Resources Aninda Islam Amit, State Minister for LGRD and Cooperatives Mir Shahe Alam, and Nargis Begum, spouse of late BNP Vice-Chairman Tariqul Islam.
The project is being jointly implemented by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and the Ministry of Housing and Public Works.
Speaking at the event, the Prime Minister highlighted the government’s commitment to ensuring healthcare services for all, stating that the goal is to deliver medical services to people’s doorsteps as quickly as possible. He also emphasized the importance of preventive healthcare through public awareness, noting that a healthy population is essential for national progress.
He added that with public cooperation, the government will be able to implement its healthcare initiatives more effectively and expand access to services across the country.
The establishment of a medical college in Jashore was originally approved during the tenure of Khaleda Zia’s government, with 75 bighas of land acquired at Harinar Beel, about 5 kilometers south of the town. Although construction of the hospital was delayed, academic activities of the college began in the 2010–11 academic session, initially operating from Jashore General Hospital.
In August 2016, the college shifted to its own campus at Harinar Beel, though without a hospital facility. Following public demand, the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) approved the construction of a 500-bed hospital on August 29, 2023, and a contractor was appointed in June 2025.
After the current BNP government assumed office, construction work on the hospital has gained momentum.