Ad-din's Executive Director: I did not try to bribe Health Minister

The authorities of Ad-din Hospital will file an appeal on Tuesday against the decision to cancel the hospital's license. At the same time, the Executive Director of the Ad-din Foundation, Dr. Sheikh Mohiuddin, has denied allegations that he attempted to offer money to the Health Minister. He made these remarks at a press conference held on Monday afternoon at the Ad-din Hospital in the capital.

Dr. Sheikh Mohiuddin stated, "The claim by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare that 'Ad-din Hospital walked around with crores of taka behind me, but I didn't take it' is not correct. Regarding the license matter, no attempt was made to give any kind of money to the Health Minister."

He said an appeal against the license cancellation decision will be filed (with the High Copurt) on Tuesday. However, the organization does not wish to engage in a legal battle against the government.

Regarding the license cancellation decision, he said, "If this incident prompts other hospitals in the country to take initiative to correct their own shortcomings, we will be happy."

He noted that steps have been taken to rectify the hospital's structural deficiencies. "An expert committee has been formed, comprising engineers from BUET. Based on their report, various problems at the hospital are being identified and resolved. The bakery located on the ground floor of the hospital building has already been closed. Approximately 700 workers were employed there."

"I have said that arrangements will be made for them to work elsewhere. Additionally, the remaining work at the hospital will be completed within the next week," he said, expressing his hope. 

According to hospital authorities, although the directive was to transfer patients within 72 hours, currently 5 patients are in the ICU, 36 in the NICU, and a total of 60 patients, including those in the child and gynecology departments, remain admitted.

Dr. Sheikh Mohiuddin said, "Following the engineers' advice, a carbon dioxide wash-out process is being carried out in the hospital building. However, the expert committee does not believe that increased carbon dioxide levels were the cause of the child deaths. Whatever problems the authorities identify, we will solve them. I hope that we will get our license back after completing the necessary corrections."

Meanwhile, a writ petition seeking a stay on the government's decision to cancel the license of Ad-din Medical College Hospital was filed with the High Court. The public interest application was filed on Monday by lawyer Md. Yunus Ali Akond. However, lawyer Mohammad Shishir Monir, representing the hospital authorities, stated that the hospital has no connection with this writ petition.

Regarding the incident involving the deaths of six children, the Bangladesh Private Clinic, Hospital and Diagnostic Association (BPCHDA), an organization of private clinic and hospital owners, commented that canceling the license of the capital's Ad-din Medical College Hospital is not the best solution. This comment was made in a statement signed by the organization's office secretary, Arif Mahmud.