Mitford Hospital, Dhaka

Robert Mitford died in Europe in 1836, but before his death he bequeathed the bulk of his property (about eight lakh rupees) to the Government of Bengal for public works in Dhaka.

Occupying an oblong area of about 12.8 acres of land on the river bank, the hospital complex comprises more than fourteen different blocks of no particular architectural significance but historically important and eminently of utilitarian character.

A 15’-0” wide verandah in front of the building is carried on a series of semi-circular arches with prominent key-stones, alternated by dwarf rectangular brick pillars.

The King Edward Memorial Ward which measures 328’-0” X 80’-0’ is an impressive three-storeyed building with a 40’-0” broad projecting portico which is located to the north of the nurses’ home.

The residential medical officer's quarters, now operating as the blood bank, is a simple two-storied building situated to the north of the main hospital.

In front of the hospital and adjoin the city-road is the Eye Infirmary building with was erected in 1893 by raja Srinath Roy Chaudhury of Bhaggyakul in memory of his mother Subhadra Moni Chaudhruy.

The nucleus of this institution of great public utility, established over a century back was the generous gift of Mitford, after whom it was originally named.

It has now been renamed after Nawab Salimullah Bahadur in the 1960s and has developed and expanded with the time and with the donations of a number of public-spirited luminaries of Dhaka, after whom several isolated block of buildings have been dedicated.

However, it is a great pity that the name of the original patron, Robert Mitford who bequeathed a substantial part of his life's savings for the founding of this institution has now been completely forgotten and not a single block of the existing buildings has been allowed to cherish his memory.