Dhaka, Oct. 21 -- The government has approved a Tk 13.65 billion project to transform Pabna Mental Hospital into an international-standard mental health institute and hospital.

The approval came at an Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) meeting held on Tuesday, led by Chief Advisor and ECNEC Chairperson Muhammad Yunus.

According to a media statement, the project started in January, and will run until December 2027, with an estimated cost of Tk 13.56 billion, fully funded by the government.

Currently, the hospital offers limited diagnostic facilities beyond X-ray, pathology, ECG and EEG services. It has a handful of single and multi-storey buildings, with insufficient residential facilities and an overall lack o...