Six newborn deaths at Ad-Din Hospital: Cause still unknown, lack of autopsy complicates probe
A senior DMP official from Ramna Division, speaking on condition of anonymity to TBS, said the Bomb Disposal Unit examined air samples from the ward to check whether the normal atmospheric components were present and whether any harmful gas or substance existed there.
Four days after six newborns died in the post-operative ward of Ad-Din Hospital in Dhaka, the exact cause still remains unknown. The Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) is awaiting the investigation committee's report. Experts say the absence of autopsies has become the biggest obstacle to determining the real cause.
According to specialists, it is "scientifically difficult to explain" how so many newborns could die at once due to the air conditioning being turned off or any ordinary cause. Without autopsies, investigators now have to rely heavily on indirect information, environmental analysis, and witness accounts, which may weaken any final conclusion.
Dr Zahid Raihan, additional director general of DGHS, told The Business Standard yesterday (31 May) evening, "We formed an investigation committee, and they are working. So far, we have not received even a partial update. They requested two more days so they can speak with the victims' parents.
"We will be able to share details only after receiving the final report. Saying anything now would be speculative and could affect the investigation."
He said the ward has initially been identified as a "confined space", but determining the specific cause will require technical support.
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"To conclude whether it was caused by gas or any other specific factor, we need technological support," he said.
On 27 May, six newborns died in the post-operative ward of Ad-Din Hospital in Moghbazar, Dhaka. Police initially said the incident may have been caused by a mechanical failure. DGHS later formed an investigation committee, which extended its deadline once and is expected to submit its report on 3 June.
"All six babies were considered fully healthy – that is the most concerning part. There must be a reason," Zahid said.
However, the biggest limitation in determining the cause is the lack of post-mortem examinations. "If autopsies had been performed, the matter would have been much easier to understand. But the parents submitted written statements saying they did not want a case filed or any autopsy. That has made the investigation more complicated," he said.
"This investigation is now being conducted in the interest of the state, not specifically for the victims. If it had been in the victims' interest, autopsies could have been carried out and the issue would likely be much clearer," Zahid added.
Dr Sanjoy Kumer Dey, professor of neonatology at Bangladesh Medical University, told TBS that in cases of sudden unexplained death, autopsies are considered the most important tool worldwide. "When no clear clues are found, autopsy is used to determine the cause – that is the internationally accepted approach."
He said, "The death of six newborns at the same time is in no way normal. Even if infection, congenital complications, or another illness were involved, death usually takes time. But here the deaths happened rapidly, which raises even more questions."
Dr Sanjoy added, "Without autopsies, it is extremely difficult to know the real cause. People can only speculate, but there will be no definite scientific explanation."
He also said the idea that simply turning off the air conditioning caused the deaths cannot be scientifically explained. "Investigators need to determine whether another gas, a ventilation issue, or some other factor was involved."
A senior DMP official from Ramna Division, speaking on condition of anonymity to TBS, said the Bomb Disposal Unit examined air samples from the ward to check whether the normal atmospheric components were present and whether any harmful gas or substance existed there.
He said they did not initially find any gas or substance harmful to human health in the hospital.
Asked about reports of a pungent smell in the room, he said the smell was present when the Bomb Disposal Unit arrived as well, but the cause of it remains unknown.
According to Ad-Din Hospital authorities, around 2am on 26 May, several mothers of newborns in Post-Operative Ward-2 on the second floor requested that the air conditioners be turned off, despite the cooling units being operational. Nurses on duty switched them off.
At around 3am, the air conditioning was turned back on. Around 4am, one baby began crying abnormally and was rushed to the NICU. The other five babies were also taken there shortly afterward.
The first baby died around 6am, and the other five died between 6am and 9am. Mothers who had recently delivered were staying in the ward with their babies, and three nurses were reportedly on duty overnight.
Ad-Din Hospital fined Tk3 lakh
Ad-Din Hospital has been fined Tk3 lakh over allegations of operating without a temperature monitoring system and providing healthcare services in an unhygienic environment.
The fine was imposed yesterday during a joint mobile court operation conducted by the DGHS and the Dhaka South City Corporation.
The drive was led by Dhaka South Executive Magistrate Mohammad Aminul Islam.
Mother of deceased twins demand accountability
Nazma Begum, a resident of Sabujbagh in Dhaka, who lost her twins in the hospital incident, demanded accountability of those responsible for the deaths.
"For the two days they (the twins) were with me, I held them in my arms constantly. My neck hurts, my body hurts – but that physical pain is nothing compared to seeing their faces in front of my eyes all the time. How will I live without them now?" Nazma said, her voice heavy with grief.
Recalling the fateful night, Nazma said, "We couldn't find anyone. There were no nurses. We didn't know where to go or whom to call. We couldn't leave our babies alone and go outside," she said.
She also claimed the air conditioner was not functioning at the time.
"The AC was off. It was very hot, unbearable. There was also a sharp smell in the room – especially noticeable when entering from outside," she said.
According to Nazma, the smell was not entirely new, but became stronger that night because the AC was turned off.
She said her babies had been completely healthy before the incident.
"If there was negligence, those responsible must be punished. No other mother should have to suffer like this," the mourning mother said.
