A probe report into the deaths of six newborns at Ad-din Hospital in Dhaka has attributed the incident primarily to oxygen depletion and carbon dioxide buildup in a post-operative room due to prolonged lack of ventilation and air conditioning failure.
The report, published by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, was presented on Thursday afternoon at the ministry’s conference room by Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Shakhawat Hossain.
According to the findings, inspection of Post-Operative Room–2 showed that the air conditioning system had remained switched off for a prolonged period and the room’s natural ventilation system was not functional. As a result, investigators believed oxygen levels in the room dropped while carbon dioxide levels rose above normal limits.
The minister said that in cases of unnatural deaths, a definitive cause cannot be established without an autopsy. However, based on environmental conditions, statements from those concerned, and recorded testimonies, several factors have been identified as possible contributors.
These include overcrowding in a closed room, prolonged shutdown of the air conditioning system, and the absence of adequate alternative ventilation. The report said these conditions led to oxygen deficiency and elevated carbon dioxide levels, making the environment unsuitable for the survival of newborns over an extended period.
The investigation added that such conditions are being considered, at the preliminary stage, as likely contributing factors behind the deaths.
It also found clear evidence of negligence on the part of hospital authorities, citing the absence of on-duty doctors and nurses and broader lapses in institutional responsibility.
