Newborn dies after being burnt in NICU warmer fire in Dhaka

A newborn boy who suffered severe burns after a fire broke out in a warmer at the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) of Royal Care and Surgical Hospital in Dhaka’s Chankharpul has died.

The baby, who had been undergoing treatment at the NICU of Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH), was declared dead around 3:30pm today (11 November), his father, Mohammad Rabbani, told The Business Standard. 

The incident occurred around 6am on Saturday (7 November), just minutes after the newborn was admitted to the NICU of Royal Care and Surgical Hospital. The fire left nearly 100% of his body burned, according to his father.

Rabbani said his son was born around 4am on Saturday. As the newborn needed NICU care but no bed was available at DMCH, the family took him to Royal Care and Surgical Hospital on someone’s recommendation.

He said the fire broke out two to three minutes after they arrived at the hospital.

“After taking my baby to the hospital, I showed him to the doctors on the second floor. While I was coming downstairs and the admission paperwork was being prepared, the warmer caught fire,” Rabbani said.

Following the incident, the baby was initially taken to the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery for treatment. As his condition deteriorated, he was later brought back to DMCH.

He was subsequently referred to Royal Care again before the hospital authorities managed to arrange his admission to the NICU at DMCH, Rabbani said.

Accusing the hospital authorities of negligence, the father said,” They took my little baby to the hospital and burnt him like this. We want justice.”