Two patients reportedly died at Sher-e-Bangla Medical College Hospital in Barishal on Sunday morning due to alleged negligence of doctors or wrong treatment.

The deceased were identified as Helena Begum, 48, wife of the late Babul Hawlader of Sarsi village and Shefali Begum, 60, wife of Mannan Talukdar of Dabluganj union under Mahipur Police Station in Patuakhali District.

The incident occurred at the female ward of the Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) department on the fourth floor of the hospital.

Family members said Helena Begum had been admitted on the fifth day of Ramadan with a thyroid problem, while Shefali Begum was admitted on the 18th day of Ramadan for surgery to remove a tumour inside her mouth.

On Sunday morning, nurses reportedly administered several injections to the patients ahead of their scheduled surgeries. Soon after the injections were given, both patients fell seriously ill and died shortly afterwards.

Ibrahim, son of Helena Begum, alleged that his mother was stable before the injection was administered.

“After the nurse pushed the injection, my mother suddenly became critically ill and died,” he said, adding that the family had informed the hospital authorities about the incident.

Khadija Begum, daughter of Shefali Begum, also alleged negligence by the nurses.

“My mother was doing well, but she fell sick after the nurse gave several injections in the morning. Even after informing them, they did not take any immediate initiative to save her,” she said, demanding proper investigation and exemplary punishment for those responsible.

Hospital sources said the director visited the ward following the incident and conducted a preliminary inquiry.

A nurse on duty, Helen Adhikari, claimed she only administered the injections and did not break the vial of the medicine, which she said was done by another nurse, Malina Haldar.

She also described the deaths as unfortunate.

Malina Haldar said the injections were administered according to the doctor’s prescription before the patients were taken to the operation theatre. She said the attending doctor was informed by phone when the patients’ conditions deteriorated and further medication was given following his instructions.

Khadeja Begum, nursing supervisor at Sher-e-Bangla Medical College Hospital, said she learned about the incident after arriving at the hospital in the morning and that the details were still being verified.

Hospital director Brig Gen Dr AKM Mashiul Munir said the patients were scheduled to undergo surgery and certain medicines are normally administered before and after taking patients to the operation theatre.

“An anaesthetic drug that should have been given inside the operation theatre appears to have been administered earlier in the ward,” he said, adding that the drug can cause physical changes requiring monitoring with machines.

He described the incident as negligence and a punishable offence, adding that the matter has been reported to the Directorate General of Health Services for departmental action.