Journalists attacked at Ad-din hospital while seeking access to bakery flagged by health minister

Three journalists were injured, and a television camera was allegedly damaged after media workers were attacked by security and cleaning staff at Ad-din Medical College Hospital in Dhaka's Moghbazar area last evening (30 May), reports Prothom Alo.

The incident occurred some time after Health Minister Sardar Md Sakhawat Husain visited the hospital, where six newborns aged between one and three days died last week.

Following his inspection, the minister said a bakery had been found on the seventh floor of the hospital's college building and that authorities would investigate whether gas emissions from the facility could have contributed to the deaths of the infants.

After learning of the minister's remarks, journalists went to the hospital to gather information.

However, shortly after the minister left, hospital authorities reportedly closed all entry points to the facility.

When reporters attempted to enter, they were stopped by security personnel, leading to a verbal altercation.

Contacted by phone, the hospital's director general, Professor Dr Nahid Yasmin, told Prothom Alo that the bakery had been sealed off by the health minister and that no one could be allowed inside.

Journalists remained on the hospital premises and later attempted to access the bakery.

Members of the police and the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) subsequently arrived at the scene.

According to Prothom Alo, in the presence of law enforcement personnel, members of the hospital's security and cleaning staff confronted the journalists, chased them from the hospital, and physically assaulted several of them.

At least three people were reported injured. A camera belonging to a TV channel was also allegedly damaged.

The hospital's director, Siddikur Rahman, expressed regret over the incident. Speaking to Prothom Alo, he said journalists had gathered on the ground floor, causing difficulties for patients entering the hospital.

"Four patients were unable to enter the hospital and returned home. When the cleaning staff asked journalists to move, one journalist insulted them by referring to them as 'jharudar.' This angered the workers, who chased the journalists away. However, no one was physically assaulted," he said.

Earlier in the day, the health minister visited the hospital's neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) on the fourth floor and spoke with doctors on duty.

He later inspected the bakery on the seventh floor before visiting the post-operative ward on the first floor, where the six newborns had been admitted.

The cause of the infants' deaths has not yet been determined.

After their death, the health ministry formed a three-member committee to investigate the incident.

Although the committee was scheduled to submit its report yesterday, the deadline has been extended.

Previously, on Wednesday night, Habibur Rahman, the father of one of the deceased newborns, filed a case at Ramna Police Station, alleging negligence by hospital authorities.

Police have since questioned several officials and employees of the hospital as part of the investigation, but no arrests have been made.