Journalists Assaulted While Reporting At Ad Din Hospital

Media professionals encountered significant obstruction and were allegedly assaulted by security and cleaning staff while attempting to gather information at Ad-Din Hospital in Moghbazar, Dhaka. The incident occurred on Saturday evening, following a high-profile inspection of the facility by government officials. According to eyewitness accounts, the hospital management actively closed all operational entry points, after which security personnel and cleaning staff were observed taking up positions directly in front of Gate No. 1 to block access.

When the journalists entered the hospital premises to conduct their professional reporting duties, they were initially intercepted and denied entry by the facility’s staff. This restriction led to an intense verbal altercation between the media workers and the hospital employees. As the confrontation escalated, personnel from the Bangladesh Police and the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) arrived at the location to restore order. Witnesses alleged that despite the presence of law enforcement officers, several hospital security workers maintained an aggressive posture, continuing to obstruct the journalists and engage in hostile behavior.

A senior manager from Ad-Din Hospital eventually arrived at the scene to address the unfolding situation. However, the journalists present at the venue reported that the administrative official failed to provide a satisfactory explanation or justification regarding the heavy-handed actions of the staff and the restriction of the press.

Health Minister Inspects Illicit In-House Bakery Operation

The confrontation occurred shortly after an official visit by the Minister for Health and Family Welfare, Sardar Md Sakhavat Hossain, who had inspected the hospital building earlier in the afternoon. The ministerial inspection was prompted by reports indicating the existence of an unauthorized commercial bakery operating deep within the medical facility. Following his detailed assessment of the site, the Health Minister addressed the media, confirming that the internal bakery was operating with extensive regulatory irregularities.

Sardar Md Sakhavat Hossain provided specific details regarding the structural and hygienic conditions discovered during his inspection of the hospital building:

“An active bakery operation was discovered inside the hospital building. Our inspection revealed that the facility was utilizing two industrial electric ovens to manufacture bread and baked goods. Worryingly, there was no qualified engineer present to oversee these operations, which is completely unacceptable for an establishment operating inside a medical facility. Furthermore, a substantial accumulation of dirt and refuse was found throughout the production area. This matter will be treated with the utmost seriousness.”

The Health Minister further disclosed that the bakery was being used to mass-produce food items intended for consumption by thousands of medical college students, hospital staff, and associated personnel. He stated that relevant authorities have launched an investigation to determine whether the industrial baking equipment had caused any hazardous gas emissions or environmental contamination within the hospital complex.

Background of the Sudden Infant Mortality Incident

The sudden escalation of scrutiny surrounding Ad-Din Medical College Hospital follows a critical incident on Wednesday morning, during which six newborn infants died at the facility within a single morning. The concentrated spike in neonatal mortality triggered widespread public anxiety and intense concern from health sector regulators, prompting an immediate intervention by the government.

In response to the tragedy, the Ministry of Health established an official inquiry committee to thoroughly investigate the clinical and operational circumstances surrounding the coordinated deaths. The regulatory probe is currently active, and the investigative committee has been legally mandated to submit its definitive final report by 3 June.

Institutional Background of Ad-Din Foundation

Ad-Din Hospital operates as a prominent facility under the ownership of the Ad-Din Foundation, a non-profit charitable organisation in Bangladesh. The foundation was established and is currently chaired by Sheikh Mohiuddin, a well-known industrialist and philanthropist. Sheikh Mohiuddin is the eldest son of the late Sheikh Akij Uddin, the industrial tycoon who founded the Akij Group, one of the largest conglomerates in the country.

Statistical Summary of Hospital Parameters and Recent Events

The primary administrative, regulatory, and investigative metrics defining the current operational status and recent incidents at Ad-Din Hospital are systematically organised within the reference matrix below: