The government has formally approved a project to build a 200-bed Covid Field Hospital at Bangamata Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Mujib Convention Center under Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University.

The approval was given at a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs yesterday with Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal in the chair.

The hospital has been in operation since August 7 on emergency basis.

Primarily, the hospital, named as Bangamata Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Mujib Covid-19 Field Hospital, has been launched with 356 beds, including 20 beds at the Intensive Care Unit and 20 beds at the High Dependency Unit.

Health officials said there will be a total of 1,000 beds at the hospital.

At yesterday's meeting, the construction of a 200-bed Covid Field Hospital was approved in the first phase, the finance minister told reporters in a virtual briefing following the meeting.

He said that it would cost an estimated Tk 10.28 crore.

Meanwhile, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs at the same meeting sent back a proposal to hire a Chinese contractor for the maintenance and toll collection after the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Tunnel under the Karnaphuli river in Chattogram comes into operation.

Bangladesh Bridge Authority has selected China Communications Construction Company Limited, which is now building the tunnel, for the maintenance and toll collection work under direct procurement method for five years after the tunnel is completed.

But the cabinet committee at its virtual meeting with the minister  in the chair yesterday sent back the proposal.

During post meeting press briefing, he, however, declined to reveal reason behind their decision.