Investigation Blames Negligence and Poor Facilities for Deaths of Six Newborns at Dhaka Hospital
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A government-appointed inquiry committee has concluded that gross negligence by medical staff and substandard infrastructure were directly responsible for the deaths of six newborns at Ad-din Hospital in Dhaka’s Moghbazar area last month. Health Minister Sardar Md. Sakhawat Hossain released the findings on Thursday, confirming that the hospital failed to meet essential operational criteria, leading to the tragedy on May 27.
The investigation revealed that the hospital’s building was fundamentally ill-suited for medical services. Specifically, the inquiry focused on the facility’s second post-operative ward, where an air conditioning failure, combined with a lack of proper ventilation, caused a severe depletion of oxygen levels and a dangerous buildup of carbon dioxide. The probe further determined that the environment was critically overcrowded, with nearly 50 people—including patients, newborns, and their families—crammed into a 900-square-foot space.
Beyond the physical limitations of the building, the report underscored a systemic failure of professional duty. Investigators found that no doctors were present to monitor patients in the ward, and the nursing staff demonstrated “extreme negligence” and a lack of cooperation. Witnesses reported that when the newborns’ health began to deteriorate rapidly, nurses failed to summon physicians or provide emergency medical responses, instead opting to delay action. The staff also lacked the training required to manage critical situations and failed to regulate the excessive number of visitors inside the ward.
Minister Hossain characterized the hospital administration as incompetent and incapable of fulfilling the fundamental requirements of patient care. He stated that the ministry is currently reviewing the legal options available and will finalize punitive measures against the institution and the responsible individuals by Sunday.
Emphasizing a zero-tolerance approach toward medical negligence, the Health Minister vowed that the government would invoke the maximum extent of the law to ensure accountability. He added that the ministry remains committed to restoring institutional discipline within the healthcare sector and will continue oversight operations to ensure that such incidents are not repeated.
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