How an eye hospital is utilizing its unused land

Responding to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's call, the authorities at Gopalganj Bangamata Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Mujib Eye Hospital and Training Institute have set an example of making the best use of its vacant land. They have established a small farm on the premises and grow safe vegetables, fruits and flowers.

Five acres of bushy land that had remained abandoned for many years have become a picturesque sight, with the hospital staff working on the field and monitoring the plantation regularly. 

Dhaka Tribune

The authorities have also evicted the illegal occupants in front of the hospital and planted flowers and eco-friendly medicinal tree saplings on the reclaimed land.

The nutritional needs of over 400 doctors, officers and employees working in the hospital will be fulfilled by these safe vegetables and fruits. The clusters of banana plantations and different vegetables, including gourd, sweet pumpkin, beans, brinjal, cauliflower, cabbage, cabbage and radish, are being cultivated here. Hence, the small farm has created much enthusiasm among the hospital staff, visitors and neighbours.

Dhaka Tribune

Recently, the hospital authorities removed the shopkeepers and others operating illegally in front of the institute on the Dhaka-Khulna highway. Then they planted flowers and medicinal plants.

Chowdhury Abed Hossain, 45, a resident of Ghonapara area adjacent to the hospital, said that they were observing production at the vegetable farm. “If they succeed, we will grow vegetables on fallow land. It will give us nourishment and money,” he added.

Dhaka Tribune

Badr Uddin Ahmed, 59, a resident of the same area, said the hospital authorities had started a massive toxic-free vegetable and fruit production campaign. “Everyone, including the hospital director, is working in the field. A festival of agricultural work has been created across the hospital campus,” he said.

Deputy Director of the district's Department of Agricultural Extension Arvinda Kumar Roy said the initiative Bangmata Eye Hospital took was excellent. “We will encourage individuals, institutions and organizations to start such farming on fallow land. There is a huge demand for safe vegetables in the market. So the farmers can earn more money,” he added.

Dhaka Tribune

Hospital Director Professor Dr Nahid Ferdausi said they were eagerly waiting for the fresh produce from the small farm.

“Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has called for increasing crop production without leaving an inch of space empty. We have taken the initiative to set an example by responding to the call. Our hospital has a total land of 15 acres. So we decided to use the five acres of abandoned land and clear the weeds to prepare the ground,” she said.

The vegetables and fruits from the farm will be purchased by 413 doctors, officers, nurses and employees working in the hospital. 

“We will not use chemical fertilizers or pesticides to produce the vegetables. We will set an example by growing non-toxic vegetables that are safe for the human body,” the hospital director said, adding that the farm had created enthusiasm among many people.