Authorities of Ad-din Medical College Hospital have announced that they will provide compensation of Tk80 lakh to each of the families of six newborns who died at the facility on 27 May. The infants, who were between one and four days old, passed away under circumstances that have since triggered widespread concern and an official investigation.
The decision was made public on Sunday by the hospital’s lawyer, Mohammad Shishir Manir, after discussions between representatives of the affected families and hospital authorities. The announcement follows findings from a probe conducted by the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), which identified clear negligence on the part of hospital staff, nurses, and administrators. The investigation also noted the absence of an on-duty physician at the time when the deaths occurred, which was highlighted as a critical lapse in care.
Earlier on Thursday, Health Minister Sardar Md Sakhawat Husain disclosed the probe findings during a press briefing, confirming the allegations of negligence. In response, the hospital authority has already taken disciplinary action by suspending two employees, Rekha Akter and Nasima Begum, whose roles were found to be linked to the incident.
Separately, DGHS has extended the deadline for the hospital to reply to a show-cause notice by an additional 48 hours, pushing it to Monday. The notice asks why the hospital’s license should not be cancelled following the incident. The original 72-hour deadline had expired at 5pm on Sunday, but officials said the extension was granted at the hospital’s request, with the added clarification that this would be the final opportunity to respond.
Health authorities have also warned that legal action may follow if the hospital’s explanation is deemed unsatisfactory by the ministry.
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