Ad-din to pay Tk 80 lakh to each family: Shishir Manir 

Ad-din Medical College Hospital has decided to provide Tk 80 lakh in compensation to each family that lost a newborn over the death of six babies at its Moghbazar branch in Dhaka.

The compensation amount was finalised through a arbitration between the affected families and the hospital authorities, said lawyer Mohammad Shishir Manir, who is mediating between the two sides.

Speaking to journalists at his Supreme Court chamber on Sunday, Shishir Manir said each family would receive Tk 80 lakh as compensation. He added that previously announced support measures for the families would also remain in place.

Each affected family has already received Tk 10 lakh, he added.

The hospital authorities had earlier announced lifetime free medical treatment, educational support and employment opportunities for the families of the deceased newborns.

Under the arrangement, the parents, siblings and children of the affected families will receive medical services free of charge at Ad-din Hospital and its affiliated institutions for life, excluding the cost of medicines. Eligible family members will also be offered free education at Ad-din-run educational institutions, while special scholarships or tuition fee waivers will be considered for higher-cost studies, including medical education. Job opportunities will also be provided based on qualifications.

The six newborns died at the hospital's Moghbazar branch on May 27. Following an internal investigation, the hospital described the deaths as the result of "unexpected negligence" and suspended its two staff members.

The findings of a five-member internal investigation committee were disclosed by Shishir Manir at a press conference jointly organised by the hospital authorities and the affected families at Holiday Inn Dhaka City Centre in Tejgaon on Saturday.

According to the report, a nurse and another staff member were found to have shown a "lack of professionalism" in their duties. The two employees have since been suspended.

Regarding a show-cause notice issued by the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), asking why the hospital's licence should not be cancelled over alleged negligence, Shishir Manir said the notice was "unlawful." He said the hospital had sought additional time and an opportunity for an oral hearing before submitting its response.

The hospital has requested 48 more hours to reply to the DGHS notice, seeking time until June 9 to provide an explanation with its lawyer present.

DGHS Director General Professor Dr Prabhat Chandra Biswas confirmed that the authorities had received the hospital's request for an extension. He said the deadline for the response was Sunday at 5pm, and further action would be taken after discussions with senior officials at the Health Ministry if the reply was not received or found unsatisfactory.

Meanwhile, Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md Sakhawat Hossain said legal action would be taken against Ad-din Hospital if its explanation was deemed unacceptable.