More than two weeks after the deaths of six newborns at Ad-din Hospital in Dhaka, the institution’s Executive Director Dr Sheikh Mohiuddin on Monday said the exact cause of death remains undetermined, adding that no autopsies were conducted.
The hospital currently has 60 patients admitted, including five in the ICU and 36 in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).
Speaking at a press conference, Mohiuddin said the Ministry of Health’s investigation report also did not identify any clear cause of death.
“We have still not been able to determine the exact cause of death. Autopsy alone is not sufficient to establish the cause of death of a child. In developed countries, a wide range of additional tests and forensic examinations are carried out in such cases to identify the actual cause,” he said.
He added that such procedures, though expensive, are crucial for determining the true cause of death.
“The deaths of so many children in a single day are extremely serious and a matter of national importance. This should be treated as a state-level issue,” he said.
A probe report had been submitted, after which the hospital’s operating licence was cancelled. An expert committee comprising BUET engineers has since been formed to examine the matter, he added.
Mohiuddin said the hospital will file an appeal against the licence cancellation on Tuesday, noting that there is a provision to do so within 30 days.
Regarding legal proceedings, he said the hospital was not responsible for submitting a writ petition to the High Court related to the government report.
A writ petition filed in the High Court in connection with the government report was not submitted by the hospital, said the hospital ED.
