A writ petition has been filed with the High Court seeking compensation of Tk1 crore for each family affected by the deaths of six newborns at Ad-Din Medical College Hospital in Dhaka’s Moghbazar area.
The petition also seeks directives for a proper investigation into the incident and action against those found responsible.
The writ was filed on Sunday by lawyer Yunus Ali Akand with the concerned branch of the Supreme Court.
Speaking to reporters, Akand said the petition calls for an independent investigation, accountability, and Tk1 crore in compensation for each bereaved family. He said the High Court may hear the petition as early as Monday.
The incident took place in the early hours of May 27, when six newborns died within hours in the hospital’s post-operative ward.
Following the deaths, the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) formed a three-member high-level inquiry committee.
The committee’s report identified multiple shortcomings in hospital management, ward conditions and duty protocols of doctors and nurses.
It found that the ward was unsuitable for newborn and post-operative care due to inadequate ventilation, poor lighting and irregular air-conditioning.
The report also said no physician was present in the ward at the time of the incident, and necessary medical interventions were delayed despite the infants’ deteriorating conditions.
It further stated that the newborns were initially stable and did not require intensive care support, but their conditions worsened suddenly without timely medical response.
The inquiry also highlighted structural limitations, lack of supervision and administrative failures at the hospital.
Meanwhile, the hospital authorities have pledged lifetime support for the affected families.
At an event on June 6, hospital legal counsel Shishir Monir said the families of the deceased newborns would receive free medical treatment at the hospital for life.
He added that their children would be eligible for special scholarships at the institution and could also be considered for employment opportunities based on merit.