Health and family welfare minister Sardar Md Sakhawat Hossain on Sunday accused Dhaka’s Ad-din Hospital of gross medical negligence, serious safety violations and operating other commercial establishments on its premises.

The Directorate General of Health Services on June 11 cancelled the licence of the 700-bed Ad-din Medical College Hospital following the deaths of six newborns there on May 27.

Sakhawat alleged that the violations and negligence contributed to the deaths of the newborns at the hospital at Maghbazar in the capital.

Participating in the discussion on the proposed national budget for the 2026–27 financial year in the Jatiya Sangsad, the minister said that six newborns died at Ad-din Hospital after allegedly being exposed to hypercapnia caused by inadequate ventilation, a malfunctioning central air-conditioning system and the absence of adequate emergency oxygen support.

He claimed that mothers desperately sought help while no on-duty doctors were available and nurses failed to respond to emergency calls.

The minister told parliament that he visited the hospital the day after the incident and spoke to doctors, where he found evidence of serious negligence.

He also criticised the hospital authorities for allegedly failing to provide compensation to the victims’ families despite their promises.

Sakhawat further alleged that the hospital had set up a commercial bakery within the medical college hospital premises and permitted the improper handling of hazardous plastic waste.

The minister said that large quantities of combustible plastic waste had been stored inside the hospital compound, posing a serious threat to patients and attendants.

The minister urged opposition lawmakers not to portray the government’s actions as politically motivated, saying the measures were taken solely to protect public health and ensure accountability.