President Mohammed Shahabuddin on Thursday laid the foundation of the 500-bed Pabna Medical College Hospital.
After attending a special prayer ceremony there, the head of state asked senior officials of the health directorate and ministry concerned to start the construction work of the hospital in his hometown on an urgent basis.
The president said: "Today is Eid-e-Miladunnabi, a special day for Muslims… It is also the birthday of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the daughter of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu and Bangamata Fazilatunnesa Mujib."
He also greeted the prime minister on her birthday and wished her a long life.
"Today is an auspicious day for the people of Pabna. I am extremely happy to lay the foundation of Pabna Medical College Hospital on the occasion of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's birthday," the president said.
"A medical college becomes self-sufficient only when it has a modern hospital. Through the construction of this hospital, a long-standing demand of the inhabitants of Pabna will be met."
Later President Sahabuddin told reporters about the background of the construction of Pabna Medical College Hospital.
On this occasion, the president's son, Md Arshad Adnan Rony, lawmaker Ahmed Firoz Kabir, Pabna municipality Mayor Sharif Uddin Pradhan, Pabna Medical College Principal Dr Bulbul Hasan, and civil, military and local administration officials were present.
Earlier, President Sahabuddin paid tribute to Bangabandhu by placing a wreath on his portrait.
The president reached Pabna on Wednesday afternoon. He exchanged views with journalists of the Pabna Press Club later and spent the night at Circuit House.
The president is scheduled to return to Dhaka on Friday.