Newborn deaths: DGHS grants Ad-din 48 more hours to respond to show-cause notice 

The Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) has granted Ad-din Medical College Hospital an additional 48 hours to respond to a show-cause notice issued over the deaths of six newborns at its Moghbazar branch on 27 May.

According to a notice, signed by DGHS Director (Hospitals and Clinics) Dr Abu Hossain Md Mainul Ahsan, issued today (7 June), under the extended deadline, the hospital must submit its response by 5pm on 9 June.

While the extension was granted upon the hospital’s request, there is no legal provision at this stage for a personal hearing in connection with the show-cause proceedings, reads the notice.

The original deadline for responding to the show-cause notice expired at 4pm today.

On 4 June, DGHS issued the notice to Ad-din hospital following the deaths of six newborns, asking why its licence should not be cancelled for violations of the Medical Practice and Private Clinics and Laboratories Ordinance.

Earlier today, the hospital’s legal counsel Mohammad Shishir Manir said the hospital had formally sought an additional 48 hours to prepare its response to “negligence” and explain why its licence should not be revoked.

DGHS Director General Prof Dr Prabhat Chandra Biswas confirmed that the health authorities had received the extension request.

Meanwhile, Shishir Manir also announced that Ad-din Medical College Hospital would provide Tk80 lakh in compensation to each of the six families who lost newborns in the incident.

He said the compensation package was finalised through discussions between representatives of the affected families and the hospital authorities.

According to him, each family has already received Tk10 lakh as an initial payment.