33 Children Die Awaiting ICU; Minister Says RMCH Director ‘Should Be Hanged’

Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md. Sakhawat Hossain Bokul has said that the director of Rajshahi Medical College Hospital (RMCH), Brigadier General PKM Masudul Islam, should be sent to the gallows. He made the remark in reaction to reports that 33 children died in 11 days due to the lack of ICU ventilators. The minister accused the hospital authorities of failing to inform the Health Ministry about the ventilator shortage, calling it evidence of negligence.

The minister made these comments while speaking as the chief guest at the “CME on Medical Ethics” programme organised by the Society of Surgeons of Bangladesh (SOSB) at the Shaheed Abu Sayeed International Convention Centre in the capital on Saturday (28 March) afternoon.

He said: “33 children have died in 11 days at Rajshahi Medical. Yet the director there did not inform us that he had no ventilators. He should be sent to the gallows.”

Referring to the hospital authorities’ negligence, he added: “When I called, he (the director) claimed that the media was exaggerating a bit. But after receiving the report yesterday, it became clear that what the media reported was true. He could no longer deny the matter.”

Minister Sakhawat Hossain added, “It is difficult to procure quickly through the government. I have used personal contacts to speak with a couple of pharmaceutical manufacturers. With their support, three ventilators are being purchased on an emergency basis today. This is not being funded by the government, but through private initiative. Efforts are underway to arrange two more ventilators today.”