Health Minister Sardar Md Sakhawat Hossain today said those responsible will be punished over the deaths of six newborns at Ad-Din Medical College Hospital in Dhaka allegedly caused by negligence of the hospital authorities.

An investigation committee has been formed to investigate the incident, he also said while speaking to journalists in Kishoreganj, reports our local correspondent.

According to health officials, the six newborns may have died due to a technical failure in the post-operative room.

The health minister also said the hospital authorities switched off the air-conditioning system and did not restart it until 4:00pm. As a result, there was a shortage of oxygen support, leading to the deaths of six children.

He said the police had already been deployed, while the director general and additional director general of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) visited the spot.

Meanwhile, an inquiry committee has been formed, the minister said, adding that if evidence is found during the investigation, strict action will be taken against those involved.

Meanwhile, families of the six newborns took the bodies without autopsy after receiving police permission, reports UNB.

Ashiq Iqbal, inspector (investigation) of Ramna Police Station, said the families collected the bodies following police approval.

Earlier in the day, a five-member team from the DMP Bomb Disposal Unit visited the ward and conducted inspections for around an hour, but found nothing harmful there, UNB added.

One member of the team, requesting anonymity, said, “We did not find anything hazardous. However, there was a slight smell which can occur if the AC remains switched off.”

Earlier, the crime scene unit of the Criminal Investigation Department also visited the hospital.