The Bangladesh Medical and Dental Council (BMDC) has suspended the medical registration of Dr Mamun Al Mahtab Shwapnil for five years following the death of a patient at Dhaka’s Labaid Hospital.
BMDC issued the order through a public notification issued on June 30, signed by BMDC acting registrar Dr Md Liaquat Hossain.
He will not be permitted to practise medicine during this period.
In addition, the BMDC also suspended the registration of 13 other doctors for periods ranging from six months to four years.
This action follows findings of medical negligence in the death of engineer Afsar Ahmed, which occurred two years ago.
On November 9, 2023, Afsar, an LGED engineer from Chhatak upazila, died while undergoing treatment at the private Labaid Hospital in Dhanmondi.
He had come under the care of Dr Shwapnil and was scheduled to undergo an endoscopy on the day of his death.
Four and a half months later, Afsar Ahmed’s brother, Khairul Bashar, lodged a formal complaint against Shwapnil and Labaid Hospital, alleging negligence and misconduct in the treatment process.
In a separate incident in February 2024, another patient—former Jahangirnagar University student Rahib Reza—died while undergoing an endoscopy performed by Dr Shwapnil.
A government investigation later held both Dr Shwapnil and Labaid Hospital authorities responsible for that death as well.
Earlier, on January 29, the Health Ministry had directed the BMDC to cancel Dr Shwapnil’s registration.
On January 16, the ministry’s Health Services Division issued a letter to BMDC recommending the cancellation, citing his involvement in the endoscopic death of engineer Afsar Ahmed at Labaid.
On the same day, the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) was also instructed to take appropriate action against the hospital.
In the letter, signed by Deputy Secretary Sharaban Tahura and addressed to the BMDC registrar, it was stated that Shwapnil was accused of negligence in the death of engineer Afsar Ahmed during an endoscopy.
A DGHS investigation committee had submitted a report, based on which the Health Ministry directed the BMDC to cancel Shwapnil’s registration and inform the ministry accordingly.
In a separate letter to the DGHS director general, the Health Services Division urged that appropriate measures be taken against Labaid Hospital in light of the same report and the seriousness of the matter.
Notably, in March 2024, Afsar Ahmed’s younger brother, Khairul, submitted a written complaint to then-health minister Dr Samanta Lal Sen, requesting an investigation into the incident.
In his complaint, he stated that his brother had sought treatment at Labaid under Dr Shwapnil on November 5, 2023.
After initial consultation, the doctor advised several tests, including endoscopy and colonoscopy, scheduling them for November 9.
According to the complaint, Afsar arrived at the hospital at 9am that day, but was informed that the endoscopy would be done at 4pm.
Although the preparatory process began in the morning, the procedure was eventually carried out at 8pm.
Dr Shwapnil allegedly ordered anaesthesia to be administered without properly assessing the patient’s condition.
During the test, Afsar’s condition deteriorated, and he was shifted to the ICU.
