The family members of six newborns died at Ad-din Medical College Hospital in Dhaka's Moghbazar in the post-operative ward demanded to form the judicial independent investigation committee about newborns died.
Government authorities and probe committees formed following the deaths of six newborns at Ad-din Medical College Hospital in the capital's Moghbazar area on May 27 have found irregularities and negligence by the hospital authorities in providing services.
A probe committee formed by the ministry is already investigating the incident while another investigation committee will be formed by the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), the minister told reporters after a meeting at the Secretariat.
Ad-din Medical College Hospital in Dhaka's Moghbazar facility has been operating under the Ad-din Foundation, which was established in 1980 by Sheikh Akij Uddin (founder of Akij Group) and Mohammad Sharif Husain. The hospital is run by the family of former commerce adviser of interim government Sheikh Bashir Uddin.
Health Minister Sardar Md Sakhawat Husain has met with the Attorney General to examine the legal aspects regarding the deaths of six newborns at Ad-din Medical College Hospital in Dhaka's Moghbazar.
Legal action will be taken over the deaths of six newborns at Ad-Din Hospital based on the findings of probe committees, said Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md. Sakhawat Husain on Monday. The health ministry sought legal advice from the attorney general regarding the scope and functioning of the DGHS-led investigation committee, he added.
"At the same time, due to the Eid holidays, the DGHS was unable to form the legal investigation committee that was required. This committee will be formed very soon by the director general's office, and the final report will be submitted by June 3.
He said the committee needs to speak with the mothers of the deceased newborns to make the report more comprehensive and practical.
The ministry invited the attorney general to provide guidance on the legal aspects of the investigation and on how to proceed in accordance with the law, he added.
We informed the attorney general about the steps we have taken and the process being followed.
He has provided legal advice and we will carry out the remaining tasks accordingly. We expect to receive the report within three days and will share the details afterward, he added.
After the meeting, Attorney General Ruhul Quddus Kazal said discussions focused on identifying any liability and ensuring that appropriate legal measures are taken against those found responsible.
The head of the investigation committee informed the meeting that the report would be submitted by 3 June, he said.
Deputy Attorney General Al Faisal Siddiqui has been included in the committee to provide legal support and ensure that no individual or institution found responsible can evade accountability through legal loopholes, he said.
The health minister sought legal assistance and I have outlined the relevant legal issues before the minister and the committee. We believe those genuinely responsible will face justice. We hope such incidents do not recur in the future, the attorney general said.
Meanwhile, the minister said Ad-Din Hospital authorities said it obtained a licence from the Department of Environment to operate a bakery on its premises. We are examining how and why the licence was issued, he said.
The Dhaka South City Corporation on Sunday conducted a mobile court drive at the hospital following allegations of irregularities by several families.
DSCC executive magistrate Mohammad Aminul Islam fined the hospital Tk 3 lakh under food safety and consumer protection laws for operating refrigerators without a temperature-control system and storing food in unhygienic conditions.
Meanwhile, the DGHS probe committee inspected the ward where the newborns died and spoke with the families of the deceased infants and hospital management.
Committee members said that investigators had already found indications of negligence and operational irregularities by the hospital authorities.
According to them, the post-operative room where the newborns were kept was 'suffocating' and unsuitable for post-operative care.
So far, one case has been filed in connection with the incident. Ramna Police Station officer-in-charge Ashique Iqbal said that Habibur Rahman, the father of one of the deceased infants, filed the case.
The 700-bed hospital came under scrutiny after six babies, aged between one and three days, died within a few hours after their conditions suddenly deteriorated in a post-operative room early on May 27.
Fire Service and Civil Defence headquarters has formed a five-member committee to investigate the death of five patients at the isolation unit of city's United Hospital on 20 may 2020.
A relative of a patient, who died in a fire along with other four patients at the United Hospital, has filed a case against the hospital authorities. Meanwhile probe committee report and police cases also goes deep fridge.
