Sir Salimullah Medical College

About University

Mitford Hospital was established in 1820, named after Sir Robert Mitford, Collector of Dhaka and also a long serving judge of the Provincial Court of Appeal. During his time there was an alarming cholera epidemic and at the height of it 150 to 200 persons died daily in Dhaka. Medical facilities were inadequate. Sir Mitford was distressed to see the suffering of the people. Before his death in England in 1836, he bequeathed the bulk of his property to the government of Bengal for benevolent works in Dhaka including building of a hospital.

Mile-Stones in the Development of

Sir Salimullah Medical College Mitford Hospital

Robert Mitford: A Remarkable Charity

Robert Mitford (1782-1836) was the Collector of Dacca District and the second judge of Dacca provincial court of appeal in the period of 1816 to 1828. He made his will in 1835. He bequeathed about Rs. 1,77,000/- for the welfare purpose of people of Dacca. It was later conducted as the Mitford Bequest fund.

Lord Dalhousie: Decision Making for the Hospital

With the grant from Robert Mitford, Lord Dalhousie made the executive order to build a hospital for the people of Dacca on 4th October,1852.

Acquisition of land for Hospital and the Dutch Monastery

Land was purchased at Pakurtali near Chotto katra on the bank of Buriganga river for building hospital. There was a Dutch monastery in that area.

Hospital Edifices:

The hospital buildings were started in 1854. It was inaugurated on 1st May,1858. The main building had one main block and two wings. The hospital was started with thirty-two patients of the native hospital in a structure of 100 beds with two medicine and two surgery wards. It was constructed by M/S Barn company.

Hospital Administration:

The hospital's own administration proceeded from 1858 to 1882 under the supervision of the civil surgeon of Dacca. It was aided by government grants, the Mitford Bequest fund and donations from local elites and donors.

The then Civil Surgeon of Dacca Dr. Alexander Simpson was appointed as the first superintendent (1st May,1858 to 15th November,1864) of the newly established hospital.

Dacca Municipality took the responsibility of running the hospital on 23rd April,1883.

The hospital was escorted under the supervision of a Board of Governance from 1898 to 1920.

On 1st April 1920, Mitford Hospital was converted as a government hospital. 

The posts of administrative heads were the Civil surgeon and the superintendent.

From 1962-1974, the same person was appointed as Principal of the Medical College as well as Superintendent of the hospital. From 1974, two different persons were appointed as principal and superintendent of the Medical college and the hospital respectively. In 1984, the administrative head of the hospital was upgraded as Director.

Establishment of other Wards:

Simpson Ward: A four room ward was built in 1865, after the death of Dr. Alexander Simpson, as the reminiscence of his memory.  

Infectious Disease Ward: Surgical operation was started in this hospital from 1867. In 1868 an infectious (Isolation) ward was established on the bank of the river Buriganga flowing beside the hospital. In 1882, Babu Pratap Chandra Das arranged water supply in the hospital on his father's reminiscence.

Ahsan Ullah Female and Child Ward: A Female and child ward was established with the grant of Nawab Ahsan Ullah. Landlord Rai kali Narayan Chowdary donated funds for purchase of land for the building. The eleven storied main administrative building is constructed at this location.

Dufferin Ward: Dufferin ward was built in 1888 with the donation of Nawab Ahsan Ullah which was renovated as maternity ward in 1920. The building does not exist now. The male intern doctor's hostel is constructed at that location

European Ward (New Cabin): For the treatment of the then European people and religious leaders the European ward was built with the donation from F.A. Barjan and A.N. Pogez. Later this ward was known as new cabin. At present the female intern doctor's hostel is constructed at that location.

Shuvadra Chowdhurani Eye Ward: In 1893, Raja Srinath Roy of BhagyaKul donated money for establishing an eye ward in memory of his mother. Later, the building for Nuclear Medicine was constructed at that location.

Lady Carmichael Home for Nurses: Lady Carmichael Home for nurses was established in 1915 for expansion of nursing services in the hospital .

Outdoor Building: In 1961, Health and social welfare minister Lt. Gen. W.A. Barki inaugurated the outdoor building for Mitford Hospital. The outdoor patient department and the activities of the pathology department were running in this building.

Eleven Storied Building: The foundation stone of this building was laid on 11th April,1976 by the then principal SSMC Prof Dr Mohammad Ibrahim. It's noteworthy that he took steps for designing and construction work of this building.

There is an old two storied building adjacent to the present outdoor building. This building was used as Blood Bank and residence for doctors. The name or the date of construction of this building is not known. Few cottages are there behind the outdoor building which are now declared abandoned.  

Outdoor Building: The OPD building was inaugurated on 26th February 2014 by Late Md. Nasim, former Health and family welfare minister. First two floors of this building are used as OPD and clinical pathology, the rest six floors are used for indoor service.

Shaista Khan mosque and tomb of Lovely khanam:

Subedar Shaista khan built this mosque in 1664. Persian writing is still inscribed in this ancient mosque. To the north of this mosque, the grave of her daughter Lovely Khanam was there. It was shifted during the construction work of Ahsan Ullah female ward.

Upgradation as Medical College Hospital:

On 15th June 1875 Dacca Mitford medical school was established. In 1962, the medical school was upgraded as a medical college and LMF course (condensed MBBS course) was started.  

Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman declared the college as a full-fledged medical college in 1972 and 1st batch of MBBS students was enrolled. Mitford Hospital was thus converted as a medical college hospital and was named as Sir Salimullah Medical College Mitford hospital.