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though some have ICU equipment, they don’t have trained manpower,” he said.

Between 2020 and 2024, a total of 240 ICU beds were installed in 22 districts under the Covid‑19 Emergency Response and Pandemic Preparedness (ERPP) Project, funded largely by the World Bank.

Over 1,000 staffers, including medical officers and technicians, were recruited to operate the units. However, after their contracts expired in December 2024, the government neither reappointed them nor made any new appointments.

Under the ERPP project, Rajshahi division received 94 ICU beds: 40 at RMCH, 10 each at Shaheed Ziaur Rahman Medical College Hospital in Bogura, Shaheed M Monsur Ali Medical College Hospital in Sirajganj, Chapainawabganj District Hospital, and Joypurhat District Modern Hospital; eight at Mohammad Ali Hospital in Bogura; and six at Sirajganj General Hospital.

Officials said 44 of these beds remain non‑operational outside RMCH and Shaheed Ziaur Rahman Medical College Hospital due to staff shortages.

The paediatric ICU at RMCH has been particularly strained. Authorities increased the number of ICU beds for children from 12 to 18 by reallocating resources for measles patients in critical condition.

“Only around 50 of the 94 ICU beds across the division are operational. The rest lie unused despite having equipment and infrastructure, as we lack manpower. We have repeatedly urged higher authorities to appoint staff,” said the Rajshahi divisional health director.

Abu Hena Mostofa Kamal, in charge of RMCH’s ICU, echoed him, saying the hospital faces overwhelming pressure because neighbouring districts lack trained personnel to run their ICUs. As a result, hundreds of patients from Rajshahi division, as well as Kushtia, Jhenaidah and Dinajpur, remain on waiting lists every month.

RMCH spokesperson Dr Shankar K Biswas said 119 children were admitted to the ICU last month, while 386 remained on the waiting list -- 91 of them died before securing beds.

Among adults and elderly patients, 278 were admitted last month, while 614 were on the waiting list -- 138 of whom died before getting ICU beds, he added.

RMCH authorities earlier this month sent a proposal to the health ministry seeking approval to establish a 100-bed ICU facility to address the crisis, Dr Shankar also said.

Health officials stressed the need for urgent measures, including fast‑track recruitment, specialised ICU training, and decentralisation of critical care.

Without resolving the manpower crisis, ICU beds will continue to remain idle while patients die waiting for care that technically exists but remains inaccessible, they warned.

Dr Mozidul Islam, supervisor of Mohammad Ali Medical College Hospital in Bogura, said its eight‑bed ICU has remained closed since the pandemic ended due to lack of staff.

Dr Akikun Nahar, superintendent of Sirajganj General Hospital, said the hospital’s six ICU beds are also non‑operational.

“We have the facilities but not the technical staff. We keep informing higher authorities, but no staff have been appointed yet,” she said.

Repeated attempts to contact DGHS Director General Prof Dr Prabhat Chandra Biswas for comment were unsuccessful.