The architectural design of Friendship Hospital in Satkhira's Shyamnagar has recently been selected as one of three entries for the prestigious Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) International Prize 2021.

The 2021 winner of the "RIBA International Prize" along with "RIBA International Emerging Architect" will be announced in early 2022, reads a post on the RIBA website.

The RIBA International Prize will be awarded to a building that "exemplifies design excellence, architectural ambition and delivers meaningful social impact".

The other two selections are James-Simon-Galerie, an art gallery in Berlin, Germany; and Lille Langebro, vehicle-free bridge in Copenhagen, Denmark.

Talking to The Daily Star, Kashef Mahboob Chowdhury, architect of the Friendship Hospital, yesterday said being shortlisted for the RIBA award is an achievement for not only his firm but for the whole nation.

"It's a proud moment," Kashef said, adding that as per his knowledge, no other architectural design from this region had been selected for the award in the past.

Earlier, Kashef's firm Urbana received the prestigious "Aga Khan Award for Architecture" in 2016 for designing the Friendship Centre in Gaibandha.

The RIBA International Awards are awarded every two years and are open to any qualified architect in the world, for a building of any size, type or budget.

Built in Satkhira in 2018 and nestled in the riverine Bengal landscape, the Friendship Hospital blends naturally into its rural setting.