After 62 years of operation, Barishal’s Sher-e-Bangla Medical College Hospital has finally received Tk10 lakh for the installation of fire safety equipment.
The hospital management has already started installing fire extinguishing devices throughout the premises and plans to provide training to staff members in the coming days.
Over the past two years, at least nine fire incidents have occurred at Sher-e-Bangla Medical College Hospital, six of which were serious. The new fire safety measures and staff training are expected to reduce future risks and improve overall safety at the hospital.
Established in 1964, Sher-e-Bangla Medical College Hospital had never received a dedicated budget for fire safety until now. Despite several fire incidents over the years, no effective measures had been taken. Following recent fires, the hospital administration acted swiftly, prompting the ministry to allocate funds for the cause. Consequently, the hospital compound is now being revamped to include fire protection systems.
Brigadier General AKM Mashiul Munir, director of Sher-e-Bangla Medical College Hospital, said, “For the last 64 years, there was no fire safety budget at Sher-e-Bangla Medical College Hospital. This is the first time we received a budget. We had initially requested funds, but it was not allocated. Later, we were granted the necessary funds in the revised budget. We have already held meetings with the fire service to identify where and how fire extinguishing devices can be installed. The installation is almost complete, and we will reserve some devices for training and emergency situations.”
Currently, the hospital has 36 wards and 52 units. While the hospital is expected to have around 1,000 patients daily, the total number of people—including patients and their relatives—can reach at least 3,000.
Additionally, the hospital handles at least 5,000 patients in the outpatient department daily. The facility also has more than 5,000 electrical points. Therefore, the installation of fire extinguishers alone will not be enough. The management is committed to ensuring proper training for all staff members to operate these devices effectively.
Dr AKM Nazmul Hasan, assistant director of the hospital, explained, “Since we now have fire extinguishers, we will train our staff in phases. We’ve also held a meeting with the Fire Service, and they will gradually provide us with training. After the training, we will conduct drills to ensure everyone can use the equipment properly. Once completed, we will use the devices effectively.”
Staff members have welcomed the move and highlighted the ongoing efforts. “The hospital area is being divided into 450 zones, with one fire extinguisher placed in each zone,” said one staff member. “Though we have not received training yet, once we do, we will be able to act quickly. We hope that this initiative will prevent the fire from spreading in the future.”
Another staff member recalled a recent incident: “When the fire broke out, I rushed to the scene. We had fire extinguishers, but we were unable to operate them properly. I got injured in the process, burning my fingers and struggling to breathe. The new initiative will help us immensely, and we won’t face such problems in the future.”
Milon, a staff member, mentioned a critical issue: “The fire extinguisher in the dental unit was expired, and no action had been taken. We want proper monitoring of all the devices, ensuring they are in working condition before use. It’s essential that our nursing staff undergo mandatory training, as they can assist in extinguishing fires when necessary.”
