Netrsakona Correspondent: Citizens in Netrakona formed a human chain on Wednesday, demanding the immediate construction of a permanent campus for Netrakona Medical College, which has been operating for eight years without its own infrastructure.

The protest, organised by the Nagarik Odhikar Committee, Netrakona, was held in front of the district Press Club. Participants warned of a larger movement involving the district’s 2.5 million residents if the government failed to resolve the issue quickly.

Established in 2018, the medical college has already produced two batches of doctors but still lacks a permanent campus, teaching hospital and student hostels, hampering academic and clinical education. The institution also faces a severe faculty shortage, with only three of its 12 sanctioned professor posts currently filled. Speakers also pointed out that the 250-bed Netrakona Modern Sadar Hospital does not have an ICU facility.

Protesters blamed local disputes over the proposed site for delaying the project. They urged the government to use the 50 acres already allocated from land designated for Netrakona University instead of acquiring new land, arguing that doing so would save public funds and protect agricultural land.

Additional Deputy Commissioner (Revenue) Sukhmoy Sarkar said an inter-ministerial resolution had approved the allocation of the 50-acre site and that the district administration had already completed land measurements and boundary demarcation. He said further work would begin once fresh instructions were received from the government.