Deaths of 6 newborns at Ad-din Medical College Hospital prompt police investigation

Highlights 

• Six newborns died at Ad-din Medical College Hospital in Mogbazar.
• The babies were aged between one and two days.
• Hospital authorities described the deaths as “accidental”.
• An investigation is underway to determine the cause.

Six newborn babies died inside a ward at Ad-din Medical College Hospital in the capital’s Mogbazar area early today, prompting police and Criminal Investigation Department (CID) officials to launch an investigation into the incident.

The exact cause of the deaths remains unknown.

According to police, the infants — all aged between one and two days — were admitted to the hospital’s post-operative ward, where mothers and newborns are usually kept following caesarean deliveries.

Sheikh Zahidul Islam, deputy commissioner of the Ramna Division of Dhaka Metropolitan Police, said the deaths occurred during the early hours of Wednesday (27 May).

He said CID officials and other police units were immediately deployed to the hospital to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident.

Meanwhile, hospital authorities described the incident as “accidental”.

Speaking at a press conference today (27 May), Professor Dr Nahida Yasmin, director general (Hospitals and Nursing) of the hospital, said there were 11 mothers and six newborns in the ward at the time.

“This is an air-conditioned ward, and many patients and attendants often complain about excessive cold and ask nurses to switch off the AC,” she said.

Dr Nahida said two of the babies suddenly fell ill during the night and were taken to the neonatal ICU. “After 3am, doctors examined them and said the babies were stable. They were later returned to the ward,” she added.

However, after 6am, nurses and mothers noticed that all six babies had become critically ill.

The infants were then rushed to the neonatal ICU. Two were found dead upon arrival, while the remaining four were placed on ventilator support but could not be saved, according to the hospital authorities.

Dr Nahida said an investigation was underway to determine the actual cause behind the deaths.