A modern medical university was supposed to open new horizons in health, education and medical services in North Bengal. But that dream is now in question as allegations of corruption and irregularities surfaced at the very beginning of the Rajshahi Medical University (RMU) project. With serious technical flaws and quality control deficiencies detected in the construction of the boundary wall, concerns have also been raised about the major infrastructure works of the project.

The draft of the intensive monitoring report of the Implementation Monitoring and Evaluation Department (IMED) has revealed that various irregularities and corruption incidents occurred at the beginning of the project. The report is scheduled to be finalized by June 30. However, the draft report says that although the original four-year period has ended, the procurement activities of 51 out of the 61 procurement packages of the project have not yet started. In this situation, the project period has been extended by two phases to three years, and the cost has also increased by Tk 391 crore.

The RAMEB campus is being built on 67.67 acres of land in Barabangram, Baje Silinda and Baraipara Mouzas of Rajpara Police Station in Rajshahi city. Vice-Chancellor Professor Jawadul Haque is the Director (PD) of the project.

Former IMED Secretary Abul Mansur Md. Faiz Ullah said, “If allegations of corruption and irregularities arise at the beginning of such a big project, then questions naturally arise about the subsequent activities. Therefore, it is necessary to consider IMED’s recommendations seriously and take effective action quickly.”

The draft report states that there are major risks in project management. The on-site inspection found evidence of multiple technical inconsistencies and specification violations in the construction of boundary walls, column casting, sand filling, shear wall RCC and main gate. In addition, the use of low-quality sand, lack of specified strength in some RCC sections and weaknesses in quality control and testing systems were also identified. According to IMED’s observations, the specified time frame was not followed in the preparation and use of the mixture. As a result, questions have been raised about the durability and quality of the construction work. At the same time, the issue of the skills of the construction workers and the supervision of the concerned officials has also come under discussion.

Another concern is that the biggest and most important works of the project have not yet begun. These include the nine-storey non-clinical building, the offices of the Vice-Chancellor, Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Treasurer, Registrar and Controller, the Senate building, the main administrative building and the 1,200-bed 11-storey hospital and several other important facilities. Several important activities, including the purchase of medical equipment, are also limited to paper and pen. An IMED official responsible for preparing the report, on condition of anonymity, said that if such irregularities occur in the construction of the boundary wall, then the possibility of even bigger corruption in the next major works cannot be ruled out. Those involved in the project have assured IMED that action will be taken against the irregularities and strict monitoring will be ensured to ensure that such incidents do not happen in the future. IMED is also adding several recommendations in its report in this regard.

Meanwhile, even though four years have passed, the physical progress of the project is only 38.27 percent. The financial progress is even lower, at 34.42 percent. So far, 773.94 crore taka has been spent.

During the previous Awami League government, the Ministry of Health, Education and Family Welfare initiated the ‘Establishment of Rajshahi Medical University (RMU)’ project to ensure modern medical education, research and improved healthcare in North Bengal. After approval, its duration was set from July 2022 to June 2026. But as the desired progress was not made within the stipulated time, the duration was extended by one year to June 2027 through the first amendment. Initially, the cost of the project was estimated at 1,867 crore taka. Later, it was increased to 2,258 crore taka through the first amendment.

Even then, since the pace of work was not satisfactory, the time has been extended by another two and a half years until December 2029 without increasing the cost. However, IMED fears that there is considerable uncertainty about whether the project can be completed on time even with the additional time. All in all, the project, which was supposed to play a groundbreaking role in medical education and healthcare in North Bengal, is now plagued by allegations of corruption, irregularities, slowness and cost overruns from the very beginning. Therefore, according to experts, it is necessary to put the project back on track by ensuring strict monitoring, accountability and rebuilding defective work.