Families of infants who died at Ad-Din Hospital seek accountability without closure of facility

Photo Collected

A+ A A-

Legal representatives for families affected by the deaths of six newborns at Dhaka’s Ad-Din Hospital have signaled a push for resolution over litigation, arguing that the institution should remain operational despite formal findings of medical negligence. During a press conference in Tejgaon on Saturday, senior lawyer Mohammad Shishir Monir, acting as a mediator, stated that the families are seeking accountability for the specific individuals responsible for the tragedy while opposing any measures that might force the hospital to close.

The incident, which occurred between 6:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m. on May 27 at the Moghbazar facility, triggered a government investigation. A committee appointed by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare submitted a report last Thursday concluding that the hospital’s building was structurally unsuitable for medical services and that the deaths were a direct result of negligence by physicians, nurses, and management. Following these findings, the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) issued a show-cause notice on June 4, demanding the hospital justify why its operating license should not be revoked by this coming Sunday.

Counsel for the hospital and the families dismissed the DGHS notice as legally flawed. Monir argued that the legal grounds cited for a potential license revocation do not exist in this case, suggesting that the regulatory action is disproportionate. He emphasized that the focus should be on targeted punitive measures against the negligent parties rather than systemic closure, which he warned would harm the thousands of patients who rely on the hospital’s services.

Probe report into deaths of six newborns expected tomorrow

Read More

In an effort to address the fallout, Ad-Din Hospital officials confirmed that they have already initiated disciplinary action, including the temporary suspension of staff members who were on duty at the time of the incident. Furthermore, the hospital has pledged to provide honorable compensation to the bereaved families and has committed to long-term support for them.

Monir defended his role as an arbiter in the dispute, noting that he is seeking a settlement that satisfies all parties involved. Present at the briefing were Ad-Din Women’s Medical College Governing Body Chairman Md. Abdus Sobur, Ad-Din Foundation advisor Afiqur Rahman, Hospital Director General Nahid Yasmin, and members of the affected families. The hospital management maintains that it is prepared to address the DGHS show-cause notice through the proper legal channels before the Sunday deadline.