A departmental investigation has been launched into allegations of cooking inside an operation theatre (OT) and other irregularities at the 250-bed Feni General Hospital, following the suspension of two nurses over the incident.

A three-member probe committee, formed by the office of the Chattogram Divisional Director (Health), visited the hospital on Monday and questioned doctors and nurses concerned.

The committee is headed by Dr Farid Uddin Chowdhury, superintendent of Noakhali General Hospital, with Dr Rajib Ahmed Chowdhury, RMO of the same hospital, as a member and Feni Civil Surgeon Dr Mohammad Rubaiyat Bin Karim as member secretary.

Hospital sources said the committee was formed to verify allegations of long-running mismanagement, including the establishment of a kitchen inside the labour ward OT, and to recommend punitive action against those responsible. The committee has been asked to submit its report within this week.

Meanwhile, two senior staff nurses, Nursing Supervisor Kalpana Rani Mondal and Senior Staff Nurse Rani Bala Halder, were temporarily suspended on Sunday through separate orders signed by Nursing and Midwifery Directorate Director General (additional charge) and Health Services Division Joint Secretary Md Anwar Hossain Akand.

The suspension orders cited the circulation of a video on social media showing cooking on a gas stove inside the OT, terming it “extreme irresponsibility, indiscipline and unacceptable conduct” that seriously endangered patient safety, public health and the image of the nursing profession.

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Feni General Hospital Superintendent Dr Mohammad Saiful Islam said, we have received the suspension orders. Further action will be taken after the investigation committee submits its report.

The incident triggered widespread criticism across the district after media reports highlighted the heightened infection risk to mothers and newborns due to unhygienic practices inside the OT.