Dhaka Medical College and Hospital - History

History

Though the college did not have a building of its own at the beginning, the present hospital building was there from long ago, even before the Partition of Bengal of 1905. It was established in 1904 as the secretariat of the newly formed province East Bengal and Assam. Not doctors, but bureaucrats used to roam about in its busy corridors then!

In 1921, when University of Dhaka began its journey, the building was handed over to the University administration. At that time, a part of this huge building was used as the University's Medical Center, another part as students' dormitory and the rest as the administrative wing of the Arts faculty. During the World War II it changed its color yet again, when it became the American Base Hospital. At the end of the war the Americans left, but the hospital remained. Through the course of time, the 100-bed hospital of that time is Bangladesh's largest hospital today.

In 1939, Dhaka University Council requested to the then British Government to establish a medical college in Dhaka. But the proposal was postponed due to second world war. After the war, Dhaka Medical College was established. In 1946, students were admitted in all years. The 1st year was named K-5, 2nd year K-4, 3rd year K-3, 4th year K-2, and 5th year K-1. All the students except K-5 had migrated from Calcutta Medical College. The main reason behind it was the partition of 1947. Though about half of the present students are females, there used to be none at the beginning. Academic class started on 10 July which is celebrated as "DMC DAY".

Major W J Virgin, the head of the committee formed before establishing Dhaka Medical College, was the first principal. At the beginning had only four departments - Medical, Surgery, Gynaecology and ENT. Since the college did not have Anatomy and Physiology departments at first, the students had their classes in Mitford Medical School. After a month, Prof. Pashupati Basu of Anatomy and Prof Hiralal Saha of Physiology joined the staff and the classes began in ward no. 22 of the hospital. There was no lecture gallery or dissection hall at that time. These needs were met after the foundation of the college building in 1955. The institute did not have any hostel for students. Male students were allowed to reside in Dhaka University's student halls, but girls had to attend classes from their homes. The college and hospital premises were expanded in new temporary sheds, some of which were built for outdoor services of the hospital and some others for students' hostels. New buildings for hostel, college and hospital were constructed in phases: a hostel for girls in 1952, a hostel for male students in 1954-55, a new complex of academic buildings in 1955, and a hostel for internee doctors in 1974-75.A new academic building and also a new hospital building (DMCH-2) are under construction.