Dr. Sheikh Mohiuddin, Executive Director of the Ad-din Foundation, on Monday strongly denied allegations made by the Health Minister that the hospital authority chased him with "crores of taka" in bribes to save its operating registration.
Speaking at an emergency press conference held at Ad-din Medical College Hospital in the capital’s Moghbazar area, Dr. Mohiuddin challenged Health Minister Sardar Md. Sakhawat Hossain is to provide evidence to back his claims.
"I didn't chase after the minister with money. If he has made such a statement, he has to prove it. Let him show the evidence," Dr. Mohiuddin told reporters when questioned about the bribery claims.
The sharp rebuttal follows a statement made by the Health Minister on Saturday (June 13) during an event in Narsingdi, where he claimed that the Ad-din Hospital authority pursued him with crores of taka, but he refused to give in to corruption and proceeded with cancelling the hospital's license following the tragic deaths of six newborns on May 27.
During Monday's briefing, Dr. Mohiuddin formally apologized to the public for the sudden and tragic loss of the six infants, noting that the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) subsequently revoked their operational license on June 11.
However, he expressed severe emotional distress over the regulatory shutdown, comparing it to a death sentence. "The cancellation of our license is tantamount to my execution, an execution of my hospital. Yet we respect the state's directive," he said.
He further commented on the minister's statement that the shutdown would serve as a lesson for other medical institutions, saying, "If other medical colleges can reform and improve because of this, I have no grievances."
Uncertainty Over the Cause of Death
Dr. Mohiuddin highlighted that despite the severe regulatory actions, the precise medical cause behind the tragic deaths of the six newborns has not yet been definitively established.
"The investigation report from the Ministry of Health did not pinpoint a specific, singular reason for the deaths, and post-mortem examinations were not conducted on the deceased infants," he stated.
The Health Minister had previously noted that a closed-room environment with inadequate ventilation and a low oxygen supply inside the neonatal unit was suspected to be the underlying factor, compounded by administrative negligence.
In response to the deficiencies highlighted in the health ministry's investigation report, the Ad-din authority announced they have already initiated a thorough renovation program overseen by an expert committee, which includes structural, civil, and chemical engineers from the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET).
The expert observation focused heavily on ventilation systems and carbon dioxide (CO2) concentrations. Dr. Mohiuddin noted that the hospital has already procured advanced monitoring equipment to measure levels of carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, and oxygen.
"While our tests did not find hazardous levels in any room, newborns have highly sensitive tolerance levels compared to adults, meaning even minor atmospheric changes can affect them. We expect all structural and technological overhauls to be completed within a week once we receive the keys to the sealed ward," he added.
Addressing a pending writ petition filed with the High Court challenging the government's shutdown notice, the Ad-din Executive Director explicitly clarified that the hospital management has no involvement with the legal move. The writ was filed independently by a lawyer in his personal capacity, he maintained.