People in nearby areas are all praise for the doctor and other staff at the small four-bed Alhaj MA Khaleque Hospital at Kajoli village in Sreepur upazila.

"It is a sacred place to us", said Sabed Ali, 72, of Amtoil village who went there for treatment.

"We had to run to the district headquarter and spend huge amounts of money before setting up of the hospital", he told this correspondent during a recent visit.

"Except Friday, 170 to 200 patients are given free treatment and medicines daily,' said Dr Ajit Kumar Biswas, a full-time doctor working at the hospital.

"The hospital has all facilities for treatment of common diseases. Patients attacked with serious diseases like heart ailments and tuberculosis are given primary treatment and referred to Magura Sadar Hospital for better treatment," he said.

Md. Shamsul Azam, a noted industrialist and social worker from Kajoli villalge set up the hospital in 1994 on 30 a decimal land. He bears all the costs for running the hospital, including those for salary and medicines, the hospital staff said.

There is one MBBS doctor, one Palli Chikitshak (government rained rural physician), a nurse, two ward boys and a night guard at the hospital.

The hospital remains open for 24 hours.

"This hospital has also created health awareness among local people in the last 10 years", said Md Aminuddin a high school teacher in the area. The doctors are very amiable and sincere to their job. They attend patients even at night, he said.