A 25-bed Shanti Nibash (Old Home), built in Tungipara of Gopalganj to provide shelter and care for destitute, helpless, and abandoned elderly women, remains non-operational due to a shortage of manpower and lack of maintenance.
The Tk6.96 crore facility was constructed under a government project titled “Establishment of 25-bed Shanti Nibash in Eight Government Children's Homes”, implemented by the Department of Social Services under the Ministry of Social Welfare.
Although construction was completed several years ago, the building and its furniture are gradually deteriorating due to a lack of maintenance.
The project began on July 1, 2020, with an initial completion deadline of June 2022. However, work was disrupted by the Covid-19 pandemic, prompting an extension until June 2023 under the first revised project plan.
The project's initial estimated cost was Tk73.98 crore, which was later increased to Tk82.69 crore in the revised Development Project Proposal (DPP) following an expansion in the scope of work.
Messrs Kohinoor Enterprise completed the construction of the facility at a cost of Tk6 crore 96 lakh 45 thousand. The Department of Social Services implemented the project under the Ministry of Social Welfare.
According to the ministry, the Tungipara facility is exclusively designated for elderly women and has accommodation for 25 residents. Plans include residential facilities, healthcare, recreation, physical exercise, prayer spaces and training opportunities.
On November 14, 2023, then prime minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the 25-bed Shanti Nibash and a child daycare centre at the government children's home in Gopalganj, along with several other projects, through a video conference from Ganabhaban.
The ministry also planned to establish similar Shanti Nibash facilities in other districts, replacing conventional old-age homes, to ensure a dignified and secure life for vulnerable elderly people.
During a visit to the facility inside the Tungipara Destitute Children's Training and Rehabilitation Centre around 11 am on Tuesday, this correspondent found the three-storey building standing to the east of the centre's academic and administrative buildings.
An inauguration plaque bearing the date November 14 and the name of then prime minister Sheikh Hasina is installed at the front of the building.
The ground floor houses a doctor's room, a gym, a dining room, a kitchen and a substation. The second floor has a study room and five bedrooms, each containing three beds.
The third floor has six rooms, including a management room, a study room, and four bedrooms.
Each bedroom has three beds with mattresses, three wardrobes, chairs and tables, as well as an attached bathroom.
However, the mattresses were found covered in dust and dirt during the visit. The middle sections of the floors were also damp, indicating a prolonged lack of cleaning and maintenance. The condition raises concerns about the building's upkeep and readiness to accommodate residents.
Shila Saha, supervisor (assistant director) of the Destitute Children's Training and Rehabilitation Centre, said construction of the Shanti Nibash had been completed long ago, but the facility could not be opened due to a shortage of required manpower.
“We occasionally clean the ground floor of the building. However, the second and third floors are not cleaned regularly,” she said.
She added that the construction was not handled locally, as the ministry directly oversaw the entire process, including tendering and implementation.