Ad-din hospital's licence revoked over deaths of six newborns

Published : Thursday, 11 June, 2026 at 4:41 PM Count : 17

The licence of Ad-din Medical College Hospital has been cancelled following the "unsatisfactory" reply over the deaths of six newborns.

The decision was announced by Director General of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) Prof Dr Prabhat Chandra Biswas at a press conference this afternoon.

Six newborns, aged between one and four days, died between 5:00am and 9:00am on May 27, triggering widespread public outrage and prompting health authorities to shut down the post-operative room and form two investigation committees.

The health ministry formed one committee, led by its Joint Secretary Md Mohsin, which submitted its report on 3 June.

Meanwhile, the DGHS formed a three-member committee, led by its Director (Disease Control) Prof Halimur Rashid, as the hospital falls under its direct purview.

An investigation by the DGHS found clear negligence by hospital authorities, nurses, and staff, as well as the absence of an on-duty physician, to be responsible for the deaths of six newborns.

The DGHS probe committee also found that severe overcrowding in a small post-operative room, coupled with an air conditioner remaining switched off for a prolonged period and the absence of any alternative ventilation system, created conditions unsuitable for the survival of newborns.

Additionally, the building’s infrastructure was unsuitable for operating as a 700-bed healthcare facility, and the post-operative ward in question was wholly inadequate for providing post-operative care, it said.

Health Minister Sardar Md Sakhawat Husain revealed the probe committee’s findings during a press briefing at the Secretariat on 4 June -- eight days after the deaths of the newborns -- and vowed to take the toughest action.

The 700-bed medical facility is one of eight hospitals and four medical colleges run by the Ad-din Foundation.

The foundation’s Executive Director, Sheikh Mohiuddin, who is also the executive director of Ad-din Women Medical College, is the incumbent president of the Bangladesh Private Medical College Association.

FP/MI