Established in 1926 by S.J. Jogendra Nath Banerjee, the century-old Satbaria Sub-Health Centre in Bheramara, Kushtia is now suffering from severe dilapidation, infrastructure decay and staffing shortages.
Located on the banks of the Hisna River, the facility serves as a primary medical hub for residents across western Bheramara as well as neighboring Daulatpur and Mirpur Upazilas. The center is strategically vital because the primary Bheramara Upazila Health Complex is frequently rendered inaccessible by closed railway gates, risking delays for emergency and maternal care patients.
Despite treating 100 to 150 patients daily facility operates with only two staff members a Sub-Assistant Community Medical Officer and a Pharmacist and lacks a stationed Medical Officer. One of its two main buildings lies abandoned and overgrown and the missing boundary wall has raised security concerns regarding drug abuse and theft after dusk. Land encroachment also threatens the compound.
Residents and local government representatives are urging authorities to modernize the facility into a 10-bed health center equipped with permanent medical officers, diagnostic tools and proper security infrastructure.
Bheramara Upazila Health and Family Planning Officer Mohammad Mizanur Rahman confirmed that funding requests have been submitted while Health Engineering Department (HED) officials stated that project reports are under review to address land recovery and structural development.
