Probe committee formed after fire at Mymensingh Medical, death toll remains unclear
Mymensingh Medical College and Hospital. Agamir Somoy.
An investigation committee has been formed following a fire at Mymensingh Medical College Hospital. Although reports of several deaths circulated during the incident, authorities have yet to confirm the cause of fire and the exact count. The probe body will verify these claims alongside investigating the outbreak.
Relatives of a patient named Shahjahan (40), who was undergoing treatment at the hospital, claimed he died in the stampede during Monday evening's fire. At least four other patient deaths were heard around the same time. While families attribute these deaths to the fire incident, hospital officials have not confirmed a direct link.
Anxiety remains high among patients and their relatives, with visible concern across various wards in the new building on Tuesday morning.
The fire originated on Monday evening from an electrical short circuit in a lift control room inside the hospital's new eight-story building. Fire service units brought the blaze under control within an hour. Although the fire did not spread widely, heavy smoke filled multiple floors, triggering widespread panic and a chaotic rush to evacuate.
Five-Member Investigation Panel
Hospital Deputy Director Dr. Zakiur Rahman announced the formation of a five-member probe committee instructed to submit a report within three working days.
Convener: Prof. Dr. Golam Rahman, Head of the Medicine Department and members are: Arnab Biswas, Executive Engineer, Mymensingh Public Works Department, Majedur Rahman, Sub-Divisional Engineer, Purna Chandra Mutsuddi, Assistant Director, Fire Service and Dr. Maun Uddin Khan, Assistant Director (Admin), Mymensingh Medical College Hospital
Systemic Mismanagement Allegations
The incident has highlighted operational shortcomings at the facility. Patients and visitors alleged that the hospital's elevators frequently malfunction and that despite having multiple stairwells, emergency fire exits in the new building were kept locked, leaving only the main staircase accessible.
Rukunuzzaman Rokan, Administrator of Mymensingh City Corporation, stated that the investigation will determine whether negligence contributed to the incident. Hospital authorities acknowledged that several individuals sustained injuries in the crush following the alarm, while official verification regarding the reported deaths remains pending.
Shahjahan (40), son of Nazimullah from Bishnupur village in Rangamatia Union of Fulbaria, Mymensingh, was one of the five individuals reported to have died. He had been undergoing medical treatment at the hospital due to illness.
His wife, Harisha Begum, told Agameer Shomoy that they were in Ward No. 33 on the third floor of the hospital when the fire broke out. She started descending with her husband, but fainted amid the rush and heavy crowd. Upon regaining consciousness and not finding her husband beside her, she began searching for him. Following information from a nurse, she went to the ICU, where she found her husband dead.
Reporters had questioned Mymensingh Divisional Commissioner Humayun Kabir last night regarding the reports of the five deaths. He had rushed to the hospital after receiving news of the fire and the reported casualties.
Humayun Kabir said that the reports of anyone dying from being trampled were incorrect, though many were injured or hurt during the rush. He mentioned that all information, including paperwork and the patient list, was being verified, adding that if anyone's death due to the fire is confirmed after verification, it will be shared with the media.
On Tuesday morning, hospital officials said information gathering had begun to confirm the identities and causes of death for the alleged fatalities. Officials said that none of the relatives of the individuals in question had notified the hospital authority about their deaths. They heard that several relatives took the bodies away right after the incident, which led to the confusion. Information is now being gathered by inquiring in various areas.
