Chattogram hospital fined Tk 1.5 lakh for operating without environmental clearance

A private hospital in Chattogram has been fined Tk 1.5 lakh for operating without the mandatory environmental clearance from the Department of Environment (DoE), officials said today.

The DoE imposed the fine on Aristocare Hospital on Mehedibag road in Chawkbazar for starting operations without obtaining environmental clearance, in violation of the Environment Conservation Act, 1995.

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"The hospital started providing medical services without obtaining environmental clearance from the DoE," said Muktadir Hasan, assistant director of the department's Chattogram Metropolitan Office.

The DoE also directed the hospital authorities to immediately install a proper wastewater treatment system before discharging wastewater into the environment.

"If the hospital fails to properly manage its wastewater, further legal action will be taken," Muktadir said.

The department announced the action today, a day after the penalty was imposed.

Meanwhile, the hospital is also under scrutiny by the Chattogram Development Authority (CDA) over alleged irregularities involving its approved building plan, land use, parking facilities and fire safety measures.

Following an inspection on Thursday, CDA Chairman Belayet Hossain said the authority had asked the building owner to appear with the relevant documents. Further legal action will be decided after the documents are reviewed, he added.