Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) is set to start operating a Covid-dedicated hospital at Mohakhali kitchen market by April 14.

Initially, the DNCC hospital will have 250 beds with 16 ICU beds.

The hospital will have another 800 beds with 84 ICU beds by the end of this month. There will be 120 HDU beds too at that time.

DNCC Mayor Atiqul Islam disclosed it on Saturday during his visit to the DNCC market which is in preparation to be a Covid-dedicated hospital.

DNCC gave the market to convert it into a Covid- dedicated hospital last year. There are no hospital activities except corona test lab operation for migrant workers and other travellers.

"We have decided to put this 250-bed Covid-dedicated hospital into operation by April 14 where primarily there will be 16 ICU beds. After this, we hope to open another 800 beds within next 15 days. The City Corporation, Armed Forces Division and Health Ministry have been working here," said the DNCC mayor.

The health ministry would provide equipment, machinery and manpower while an engineering team of the DNCC armed forces division would give management support, he added. Total ICU capacity would come into operation by the end of April which would help control the ICU crises.

"We have talked with the health ministry regarding doctors which they will give us phase by phase," he said.

Talking to the FE, Mayor Atiq said the total number of ICUs will be 100 and HDU 120.

The health minister said they would prepare the 1200-bed DNCC hospital with high flow oxygen supply to cope with the rising Covid patients in the country.

Regarding sewerage connections to Gulshan, Banani and Baridhara lake, he said DNCC had started preparation for the owners of those holdings who had given sewerage connections to the lake.

Those who live in posh areas like Gulshan, Banani and Baridhara would be punished for their misdeeds as they sell their apartments at Tk 300-Tk 500 million but gives sewerage connections to the lake, he warned.