Panthapath's Mohona Hospital shut

A hospital in Panthapath that allegedly neglected treatment of senior journalist Zaglul Ahmed Chowdhury before he died, lacks necessary approval.

Health Ministry officials, who visited the Mohona Hospital on Monday before shutting it down, said it only had the approval to function as a diagnostic centre.

The ministry team included its Joint Secretary (hospitals) Mosharraf Hossain and Heath Department Director (hospitals) ABM Abdul Hannan.

Mohona authorities were operating the hospital with the clearance for a diagnostic centre, Hannan told bdnews24.com.

“The hospital has been shut temporarily. Mohona authorities have been directed to report by Tuesday after shifting its patients,” he said.

A final decision will be taken after getting Mohona’s report, added Hannan.

On Nov 29, Chowdhury, former chief editor of state news agency, Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS), died after falling off a moving bus in capital Dhaka’s Karwanbazar area.

A witness, Imrul Qayes, said he fell to the ground while getting off the bus at the busy intersection.

Qayes was one of those who rushed the journalist to the nearby Mohona Hospital at Panthapath. "There was blood coming out of his nose and ears at the time," he told bdnews24.com.

"After keeping the critically injured man there for at least 45 minutes, doctors of that clinic said they would not be able to treat him."

"Then we rushed him to Comfort Hospital where the doctors declared him dead," Qayes said.

The road transport ministry has already formed a five-member probe body over the incident.