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Published : 08 Jun 2026, 03:44 PM
A decision on what action will be taken on Ad-din Medical College Hospital following a probe into the deaths of six newborns is set to be finalised on Tuesday, the health minister says.
Minister Sardar Md Sakhawat Husain made the announcement on Monday at an event at the health ministry's conference room.
"The government will not hesitate for a moment to take any kind of decision in the public interest," he added.
Sakhawat noted that since courts occasionally grant extra time, denying the administrative extension might give the hospital an undue technical advantage during potential legal battles.
He added that the ministry extended the response window by 48 hours to consult state attorneys and reach a “stable, legally acceptable” resolution while moving forward with the case.
The six newborns in the post-operative ward of Ad-din Hospital suddenly fell ill in the early hours of May 27, a Wednesday, the day before Eid-ul-Azha, and died one after another, triggering nationwide “concern, grief and anger”.
A health ministry investigation committee concluded that overcrowding, prolonged disruption of air conditioning, the absence of alternative ventilation and rising carbon dioxide levels in the ward were the likely causes of the deaths.
The committee also found “clear evidence of negligence by the hospital authority, nurses and staff, as well as the absence of a doctor on duty during the critical period”.
When the report was published on Jun 4, the health minister said the government would review the findings and relevant laws before deciding on action against the hospital.
The decision was initially expected on Sunday.
On the same day, the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) served a show-cause notice to Ad-din Hospital, asking why its licence should not be revoked over the deaths of the six newborns and seeking a response within three days.
The hospital later requested an additional 48 hours to reply to the notice. Its response is now due by Tuesday.
Meanwhile, hospital lawyer Shishir Manir said on Sunday that each affected family would receive Tk 8 million in compensation.
He said the amount had been agreed through discussions between the families and the hospital authority, adding that Tk 1 million had already been paid to each family.
Asked about the compensation arrangement and possible legal action against the hospital, the minister said the government would appoint lawyers to review the report and make recommendations on the appropriate course of action.
Dengue Season Preparations
The health minister also spoke about dengue preparedness, saying the government was working to ensure adequate medical supplies, including saline stocks.
At the event, 100,000 units of intravenous saline were handed over by the Bangladesh Association of Pharmaceutical Industries as part of seasonal dengue readiness support.
The minister said dengue patients’ treatment readiness was being strengthened and that sufficient saline was available under government management.
Sakhawat also expressed optimism about the country’s pharmaceutical sector, saying Bangladeshi medicines are now being exported to around 140 countries.
Pledging support to private pharmaceutical companies, he said the government would provide assistance to help the industry achieve that goal.
