Swapan Kumar Singh :

​The government has cancelled the license of Ad-din Medical College Hospital in the capital’s Moghbazar following a probe report that found “gross negligence and mismanagement” led to the tragic deaths of six newborns in the post-operative ward.

​Director (Hospitals and Clinics) of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), Abu Hossain Md Moinul Ahsan, confirmed the development on Thursday.

​As per government regulations, the hospital authorities will have 30 days to appeal against the cancellation order.

​A Tragic Dawn
​The tragedy unfolded in the early hours of May 27, when six newborns—aged between one and three days—died under mysterious circumstances in the hospital’s post-operative ward. Because they were newborns, most had not yet been named and were identified only by their mothers’ names.

​The heartbreaking incident sparked widespread outrage and severe criticism across the country.

​Following the deaths, Md Habibur Rahman, the father of one of the deceased infants, filed a case with Ramna Police Station alleging death by negligence. In response to the public outcry, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare formed a high-level committee to investigate the matter.

​Probe Finds Severe Lapses
​The government probe committee submitted its findings on June 4, revealing alarming irregularities. The report highlighted severe negligence of duty by the on-duty nurses and staff, alongside critical administrative and clinical lapses within the hospital management.

​Upon receiving the report, Health Minister Sarder Md. Sakhawat Hossain issued a stern warning, stating that the highest legal actions would be taken to ensure exemplary punishment for those responsible, and no one would be spared.

​Subsequently, on June 5, the DGHS issued a show-cause notice to the hospital authorities. The owner of the hospital, Dr. Sheikh Mohiuddin, was given 72 hours to explain why the facility’s license should not be scrapped for violating the country’s medical ordinances.

​Following an evaluation of their response and a thorough legal review, the DGHS finalized the cancellation of the license today.

​Compensation and the Way Forward
​Earlier on June 7, a compromise agreement was reached between the bereaved families and the hospital authorities.

​Advocate Shishir Monir, acting as the mediator between the two parties, confirmed that the hospital authorities agreed to pay Tk 80 lakh in compensation to each of the affected families. However, the DGHS clarified that the financial settlement does not absolve the hospital of legal accountability.

​In a press release issued after the license cancellation, the Ad-din management stated that while they will pursue legal recourse, they have requested the government to allow the hospital to continue its general medical operations in the interest of ordinary patients until a final decision is reached.

​This tragic incident has once again raised serious questions regarding the quality of care, safety protocols, and accountability within Bangladesh’s private healthcare sector.