United News of Bangladesh

More than three decades after the once-ambitious Trust Modern Hospital in Mirpur shut its doors, the government is now considering whether the abandoned facility can be revived or replaced with a new modern healthcare complex. The Ministry of Liberation War Affairs is currently assessing the feasibility of constructing a contemporary medical facility on the site, following the dissolution of the Freedom Fighter Complex Fund Committee and the transfer of its assets to the Bangladesh Freedom Fighters Welfare Trust. Located on 13.22 acres in Senpara Parbata, the property carries a long and complicated history tied to post-independence welfare initiatives for freedom fighters and families of martyrs. The land was originally leased in 1980 under directives issued during the tenure of former president Ziaur Rahman. A four-storey building was later constructed in 1984 on part of the land to accommodate wounded freedom fighters and families of martyrs. Officials said the facility initially housed 16 injured veterans and five martyr families before the residents were relocated to pave the way for the establishment of Trust Modern Hospital. Under a joint French-Bangladeshi grant arrangement, the hospital was expanded into a 100-bed medical facility and formally inaugurated by former prime minister Khaleda Zia on December 1, 1991. Despite the ambitious plan, the hospital failed to continue operations and was shut down just two years later in 1993. Since then, the building has remained abandoned. Officials involved in recent assessments described the structure as severely deteriorated after decades of neglect. According to ministry documents, the existing building is now around 45 years old and in an “extremely dilapidated condition”, raising concerns over whether renovation is technically feasible. Authorities are also questioning whether the designated 68-decimal hospital zone would be sufficient for a modern healthcare facility in densely populated Mirpur, where population growth and urban expansion have accelerated significantly since the 1990s. The building is dilapidated after 30 years of abandonment,said an official document reviewed by UNB. It said any future development would require detailed technical assessments to determine whether the site can meet current healthcare infrastructure standards. While the original 1980 lease stipulated a 30-year term with options for two subsequent renewals, the lease was not renewed under the Fund Committee's name when the first term expired in 2010. Following the May 2025 gazette notification, the Dhaka District Administration is currently processing the transfer of the lease to the Bangladesh Freedom Fighters Welfare Trust. The Freedom Fighter Complex Fund Committee was formally abolished through a government gazette notification issued on May 28, 2025. Following the move, all assets and land management responsibilities were transferred to the Bangladesh Freedom Fighters Welfare Trust. Officials said the Dhaka district administration is currently processing the transfer of the lease in the trust’s name. The original lease agreement signed in 1980 had a 30-year tenure with provisions for two renewals. However, the lease was not renewed under the Fund Committee after the initial term expired in 2010. Ministry officials said a final decision on whether the hospital will be renovated, reconstructed, or replaced entirely will depend on consultations between technical experts and the Ministry of Liberation War Affairs. For now, the abandoned hospital — once envisioned as a major welfare initiative for freedom fighters — stands as a reminder of an unfinished promise, awaiting a decision on whether it can once again serve public healthcare needs.