Mymensingh: State Minister for Disaster Management and Relief M Iqbal Hossain announced on Wednesday that an investigation is in progress regarding the recent fire at Mymensingh Medical College Hospital, and appropriate measures will be implemented to resolve the hospital's current issues once the probe report is obtained. He made these remarks during a visit to the hospital on Wednesday morning.
According to United News of Bangladesh, the state minister held a meeting in the hospital's conference room upon his arrival. During the meeting, the hospital management committee's chairman and vice-chairman were briefed on the hospital's overall operations, existing problems, and the challenges it faces. Notable attendees during the visit included Hospital Management Committee Vice-Chairman and Mymensingh Sadar MP Abu Wahab Akanda, Deputy Director of the hospital Dr. Md Zakiul Islam, President of District Doctors Association of Bangladesh (DAB) Dr. Mohammad Ali Siddiqui, and Fire Service Deputy Director Purnachandra Mutsuddi.
Addressing a query, Abu Wahab Akanda clarified that no fatalities occurred due to trampling during the fire incident. He stated that those who passed away did so from natural causes. In the meantime, the hospital authorities have reformed the investigation committee tasked with examining the fire incident.
The initial five-member committee was dissolved, and a new six-member committee was established. Professor Dr. Golam Rahman Bhuiyan of the Department of Medicine has been appointed as the head, with Assistant Director Dr. Main Uddin Khan serving as the member-secretary. Deputy Director Dr. Zakiul explained that the original committee was formed on the night of the incident and has since been reconstituted with new members, replacing two from the previous lineup.
The newly formed committee includes Associate Professor Mohammad Abdullah Al Mamun from the Department of Surgery at Mymensingh Medical College, Dental Surgeon Dr. Khandaker Muhammad Anwar Hossain, Executive Engineer of the Electricity Department Subrata Roy, and Fire Service Deputy Director Purnachandra Mutsuddi. The committee has been tasked with submitting its report within three working days, focusing on identifying the fire's cause, determining any negligence by the authorities, and evaluating the damage caused by the fire.
Earlier on Monday, a fire erupted from a lift in the hospital's new building, resulting in the deaths of six people around 5:45 pm.