Ad-din Medical College Hospital in Dhaka has submitted its response to the show-cause notice issued by the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) over the deaths of six newborns, allegedly caused by negligence.

“We have received their reply within the deadline [5:00pm today] and will now forward it to the high-ups for taking a decision,” Abu Hussain Md Moinul Ahsan, director (hospitals) of DGHS, told The Daily Star today.

Replying to the question, he said they will send the reply to the additional director general (ADG-administration) tomorrow, and then it will go to the DGHS DG for decision.

“It is not possible to know when the final decision will be given,” he added.

The show-cause notice asked why the hospital’s licence should not be cancelled after six newborns, aged between one and four days, died on May 27. The incident triggered public outrage and led health authorities to shut down the post-operative room and form two investigation committees.

A DGHS probe committee found clear negligence by the hospital authorities, nurses and staff, as well as the absence of an on-duty physician, to be responsible for the deaths.

Health Minister Sardar Md Sakhawat Husain disclosed the findings on Thursday (June 4), the same day the show-cause notice was issued. The preliminary deadline was 5:00pm on Sunday, but the directorate extended the deadline by 48 hours following the request of the hospital authority.