Dhaka: Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday laid the foundation stone of Sheikh Hasina National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery at Chankharpool in Dhaka, aiming to provide better treatment for burn victims.

She laid the foundation stone by unveiling the plaque. The institute will be the largest of its kind not only in South Asia but also in the world.

A prayer was offered seeking peace and prosperity of the country, eternal salvation of the departed souls who lost their lives in arson attacks last year during the non-stop blockade of the BNP-Jamaat alliance and early recovery of the injured persons.

Later, the Prime Minister was apprised about the overall plan of the project.

The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec) on November 24 last year approved the Tk 522 crore project for the establishment of the Institute to be implemented with fund from the public coffer.

One of its main aims will be to produce burn specialists and plastic surgeons of international standards. The other objectives of the institute will be to train up nurses, paramedics, physiotherapists and staff specialised in dressings.

Initially, the institute will be able to produce 10 to 12 doctors every year who would attain the Master of Science in Plastic Surgery to be posted to different burn units, expected to be set up at every district under the institute. Currently, Bangladesh gets just two expert plastic surgeons a year.

It will have 500 beds, including 50 for the intensive care unit, 12 operating theatres (four each for the burn, emergency and plastic surgery units), and equipment such as burn tanks.

The approved money will initially be spent on building a 10-storey building in two years. Later, the building will have five more upper floors.

The building will have three wings meant for burn and plastic surgery, administrative and academic and outdoor activities.