Health Minister Sardar Md Sakhawat Husain on Sunday criticised opposition Jamaat lawmakers for defending Ad-din Hospital, pointing out that its licence was suspended due to “gross negligence” that resulted in the deaths of six infants.
While participating in the general discussion regarding the proposed national budget for the 2026-2027 fiscal year in Parliament, Husain challenged the opposition’s motives.
Addressing the members, he asked, “Why do you link every issue with your party ideology? One cannot oppose the country in the name of ideology, which you had done in 1971.”
Husain emphasised his responsibility to public safety, saying, “Being the health minister, I must look after the health and welfare of my people. Our children cannot be allowed to die without treatment,” and noted that the hospital’s operating permission was contingent upon maintaining strict discipline.
He expressed profound sympathy for the families of the six babies whose deaths were attributed to negligence at the facility.
The minister acknowledged that Ad-din Hospital provides subsidised dialysis services at rates of Tk200 to Tk250, as noted by Jamaat MPs.
However, he dismissed their metaphorical arguments regarding the government’s disciplinary actions, “They [Jamaat MPs] asked whether a headache should be treated by cutting off the head. I say no, it should not. But those who cut off heads must be brought to justice.”
Hussain also rejected attempts to compare the situation at Ad-din with the fatal fire at United Hospital during the Covid-19 pandemic. He argued that the United Hospital tragedy was an accident, whereas the events at Ad-din Hospital constituted “gross negligence.”
Describing the harrowing conditions leading to the infants’ deaths, Husain alleged that newborns struggled for life in a windowless room after the air conditioning was turned off and oxygen supplies failed.
“The babies were gasping for breath while 16 or 17 mothers ran around helplessly. Six infants eventually collapsed and died due to carbon dioxide accumulation. Even the owner (of the hospital) did not come to see the situation (after the incident),” the minister said.
Following a personal visit to the hospital the next day, the Minister spoke with two doctors and concluded that the deaths were a direct result of negligence and oxygen deprivation. “I found that the babies died because of negligence and a lack of oxygen. Should we have remained silent? Hospital discipline comes first. Bangladesh comes first,” he stated.
Husain alleged that a bakery had been established adjacent to the hospital in breach of safety standards, posing a major fire risk. “If a fire broke out there, no patient or attendant would be able to escape…..This happened because of the owner’s negligence,” he added.
Defending the state’s intervention, Husain clarified that the hospital’s licence has been suspended rather than permanently revoked, with the government currently overseeing its operations.
He concluded by urging the opposition to avoid politicising the tragedy, “We have not asked to cut off heads. We have only suspended its licence. We, the government, are overseeing it. But you should not do politics for partisan gain.”
