The deaths of six newborns at Ad-Din Medical College Hospital have led to the resignation of the hospital’s executive director, cancellation of the institution’s licence, criminal proceedings, and a widening confrontation between the government and one of country’s largest charitable healthcare providers.
More than two weeks after the deaths shocked the country, authorities say evidence of negligence has been found, while Ad-Din officials continue to dispute key findings and insist the exact cause of the tragedy remains unknown.
In its most significant move yet, the government revoked the licence of Ad-Din Medical College Hospital in Moghbazar on June 11 after reviewing an investigation report that found serious lapses in patient care and hospital management.
On Tuesday, the Ad-Din Foundation announced that executive director Dr Sheikh Mohiuddin had stepped down from his position.
Professor Jamalunnesa has been appointed to replace him.
The foundation said disciplinary action had already been taken against staff found responsible during the initial investigation and that reforms were underway to strengthen supervision, review treatment protocols and improve hospital infrastructure.
The crisis began in the early hours of May 27, when six newborns aged between one and three days died in the hospital’s post-operative ward.
The incident triggered nationwide outrage and prompted the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare to form an investigation committee.
The committee later concluded that negligence by hospital authorities and on-duty staff contributed to the deaths.
Health Minister Sardar Md Sakhawat Hossain subsequently said the investigation uncovered serious failures in patient management, including the absence of an adequate ventilation system, deficiencies in oxygen circulation and failure by on-duty medical personnel to respond appropriately when the babies’ condition deteriorated.
“There was no safe environment for newborns,” the minister said on Tuesday.
“No one will escape accountability by ignoring government regulations and laws.”
Following the investigation, the Directorate General of Health Services issued a show-cause notice to the hospital on June 5.
The government later described Ad-Din’s response as unsatisfactory before cancelling its licence.
The minister has repeatedly defended the decision, arguing that strong action was necessary to restore accountability in the private healthcare sector.
“This punishment will serve as a warning for hospitals across the country,” he said.
The controversy deepened after the minister alleged that representatives of the hospital had attempted to influence him to reverse the decision.
Speaking at a public event in Narsingdi on June 13, Sakhawat claimed that Ad-Din authorities had pursued him with offers of “crores of taka” in an attempt to save the licence.
Ad-Din officials have strongly denied the allegation.
At a press conference on Monday, outgoing Executive Director Sheikh Mohiuddin challenged the minister to provide evidence.
“Why would I run after anyone with money? I have done nothing of that sort,” he said.
He also questioned whether investigators had conclusively determined the cause of death.
“The exact cause remains unknown. There was no post-mortem examination. Even the ministry’s report did not clearly identify the cause,” he said.
According to Mohiuddin, experts consulted by the hospital do not believe the level of carbon dioxide found in the ward was sufficient on its own to explain the deaths.
Despite contesting the findings, he said the hospital had already begun extensive renovation work based on recommendations from health authorities.
Engineers, including consultants from Buet, have been engaged to redesign ventilation systems, improve oxygen circulation and review structural deficiencies.
The neonatal ward has been sealed off for renovation, while a bakery operating inside the hospital premises is also being removed.
Meanwhile, legal proceedings are continuing.
A father of one of the deceased newborns has filed a negligence case with Ramna Police Station, while lawyer Shishir Monir, who mediated between the families and hospital authorities, said earlier this month that Ad-Din had agreed in principle to provide Tk80 lakh in compensation to the families of the six children.
The government has maintained that the issue extends beyond compensation.