A five‑member committee has been formed to investigate the fire at Mymensingh Medical College Hospital. The committee has been directed to submit its report within three working days.
Dr Golam Rahman, a professor at the hospital, will lead the committee. The other members are the hospital’s assistant director, an assistant director of the Fire Service, an executive engineer of the Public Works Department, and an engineer from the department’s electrical division.
Mymensingh Divisional Commissioner SM Humayun Kabir Sarkar has said reports claiming six deaths in a stampede following Monday’s fire at the hospital were incorrect.
Around 10:45pm Monday, Divisional Commissioner SM Humayun Kabir Sarkar told journalists, “So far, we have found no evidence that anyone died in a stampede at the hospital. If such proof exists, show it to me and I will verify. Information about injuries has been received, but even that is being checked for accuracy.”
The commissioner cautioned that no information should be announced without confirmation. He said facts must be verified first, warning that publishing or broadcasting unconfirmed reports could create an embarrassing situation.
He added, “The emergency department list shown to me does not record six deaths. I also have another list, which I will cross‑check. Morgue data has been collected, but it does not match other information. Only after reconciling all sources will the actual number and situation be confirmed.”
The fire broke out around 6pm, spreading smoke to several floors and triggering panic among patients and attendants. Hospital authorities said several people were injured while rushing downstairs.
Fire Service officials reported that 10 units from five stations reached the spot and brought the blaze under control around 6:30pm. The local administration said it was checking hospital records, morgue information, and other lists to verify the reported deaths.
According to media reports, the fire was initially suspected to have been caused by excessive heat from an electrical short circuit in a lift that was not in operation at the time. Officials said the exact cause would be determined after investigation.
Initial casualty reports unverified
Immediately after the incident, reports spread that six people had died in a stampede and later that four more had died. However, by night the administration said there was no confirmation that any of them had died from the fire or a stampede. Various sources reported that at least 20 people were injured while rushing down the stairs.
Mymensingh Fire Service Assistant Director Purna Chandra said, “It is initially suspected that the fire originated from excessive heat caused by an electrical short circuit in the controller board connected to the lift’s control room in the hospital’s new eight‑storey building.”
“The exact cause will be confirmed after investigation. Because the fire started in the control room, smoke spread to different floors. Although the fire itself was not extensive, the smoke created panic among patients and attendants,” he added.
Hospital Deputy Director Jakiul Islam said, “No hospital ward was damaged in the fire. The exact cause and whether there was any fault in the electrical system will be confirmed after investigation.”
After the fire was fully extinguished, Mymensingh Divisional Commissioner Humayun Kabir inspected the site. Around 12:30am he told journalists that although reports of deaths had been received, there was no evidence that anyone had died in a stampede.
Families confirmed that two of those listed as dead had died of natural causes. The cause of death for two others has not yet been determined.
