The authorities of Ad-Din Medical College Hospital have expressed regret over the attack on journalists who went to collect information about the deaths of six newborns in Dhaka’s Moghbazar.
A press release signed by Tarikul Islam Mukul, director of the hospital, was issued on Saturday regarding the matter.
The release said that after the deaths of six newborns on 27 May, the Ministry of Health, Directorate General of Health Services, police, RAB, and other authorities visited the hospital, and the government formed an investigation committee.
Due to extensive media coverage of the incident, doctors and staff had been working under mental pressure for several days.
The hospital authorities stated that on Saturday, after Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md Sakhawat Husain visited the hospital, a large number of journalists attempted to enter.
Measures were taken to control entry in the interest of patients under treatment. At one stage, when some journalists spoke with cleaning staff, misunderstandings arose and a few workers behaved in an agitated manner.
The release further said that senior officials present tried to bring the situation under control and considered any display of disrespect toward journalists as unwanted.
Ad-Din Hospital said that it has always maintained cooperative relations with media professionals. The institution sincerely regrets the unexpected incident of 30 May. It also requested that if any journalist was hurt, they view it with understanding and forgiveness.
After visiting the hospital, Minister Sakhawat told reporters a bakery was found operating inside the hospital. He said, “A bakery has been found on the ground floor of the hospital. It operates with two electric ovens. There is no engineer assigned to it. This should not have happened.”
He added the authorities were examining whether any gas emissions from the facility occurred or not.
A large amount of dirt and unhygienic conditions were found there, he said, adding that the matter will be investigated thoroughly and dealt with strictly.
Earlier, in the early hours of 27 May, six newborn babies died at the hospital. Following the incident, the Health and Family Welfare Ministry formed an investigation committee to look into the matter.
