Patients are queuing from midnight at the National Cancer Research Institute and Hospital in Dhaka for treatment, yet there is no guarantee they will receive care in the morning. The suffering has been compounded by the failure to open a 460-bed specialized hospital in Barishal after six years of construction.
12 November 2026, 3:24 PM
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2 min read
For patients seeking treatment at the National Cancer Research Institute and Hospital in Mohakhali, Dhaka, the wait seems endless. Before 4:30 am, nearly fifty patients and their relatives had already gathered in front of the collapsible gate of the hospital's administrative building.
Some lay on mats or bedding, while others rested directly on the floor. A few had set up mosquito nets to spend the night, while others burned coils and fanned themselves against the heat and insects.
Overnight Queues, Morning Uncertainty
Hospital sources indicate that patients must begin lining up in the early hours of the morning for a chance at treatment. However, even when the gates open, there is no guarantee of care. The crowd is so large that not all patients can be attended to daily. One patient waiting in line, Ismat Ara, recounted that despite waiting all night, many are often sent home without receiving treatment.
Pressure on Dhaka Due to Delayed Barishal Hospital
This crisis is particularly acute for patients from the southern region of the country, for whom Dhaka remains the only reliable destination for cancer, kidney, and heart disease treatment. In 2020, the government initiated a project to build specialized treatment centers for these diseases in eight divisional cities. One such center is under construction on nearly three acres of land at Sher-e-Bangla Medical College Hospital in Barishal. Yet, six years on, the 460-bed facility has still not been opened.
Rising Project Costs
The project timeline has been extended twice, and construction costs have escalated in tandem with the delays. Faisal Alam, Executive Engineer of the Public Works Department in Barishal, stated, "As time passes, the price of everything increases, and accordingly, the cost of such projects will also rise. This is normal." However, the prolonged delay has undeniably intensified the suffering of patients from the southern region, a humanitarian concern that cannot be overlooked.
Awaiting Specialized Care
Experts argue that operationalizing specialized hospitals in divisional cities would alleviate the immense pressure on Dhaka and ensure timely treatment for patients nationwide. Until that happens, the nightly queues and stories of uncertainty in front of the National Cancer Institute in Mohakhali are set to continue.
