6 infants’ deaths at Ad-din hospital: Probe report not submitted today, deferred to 3 June

The investigation committee, formed to probe the deaths of six newborns at the capital’s Ad-Din Medical College Hospital, has not submitted its report as scheduled for today (30 May).

The deadline for submitting the report has been extended by a few days, with the committee now scheduled to submit it on 3 June, said Health Minister Sardar Md Sakhawat Hossain.

Speaking to journalists at the Directorate General of Health Services this morning, the health minister said the committee had sought additional time to examine various other aspects of the incident in greater depth.

He said, “The extension was granted following their request”. He further said that the report could not be finalised today as the statements of bereaved mothers admitted at the facility could not be taken.

“A comprehensive report will be prepared after recording their statements,” he added.

He also clarified, “The air conditioning system was shut down for two hours from 2am to 4am at the request of a mother, and no ventilation arrangement was in place during that time. Strict action will be taken based on the findings of the report.”

“The committee requested additional time to prepare a complete and impartial report. I hope that the final findings would be submitted by 3 June,” the minister added.

Meanwhile, police said that infants aged one to two days fell critically ill in the hospital’s post-operative ward in the early hours of Wednesday (27 May), after which CID and police collected samples from the scene, while authorities suspect a gas leak in the air-conditioning system or another mechanical fault, though the exact cause remains under investigation.

Earlier, hospital authorities described the incident as “accidental”, saying 11 mothers and six newborns were admitted in the ward at the time of the tragic incident.