Dhaka: The sudden breakdown of a 40-body mortuary cooler at the morgue of Dhaka Medical College (DMC) has created serious difficulties in preserving bodies and conducting post-mortem examinations, prompting the hospital’s Forensic Medicine and Toxicology Department to seek urgent repairs.
According to United News of Bangladesh, an official letter was sent to the DMC principal, indicating that the mortuary cooler has been out of service since June 2, causing significant disruption to regular morgue operations. The letter, signed by Prof Dr Kazi Golam Mukhlesur Rahman, head of the Forensic Medicine and Toxicology Department, stated that the malfunction has severely hampered body preservation and routine autopsy activities.
The letter urged the hospital authorities to treat the matter as highly urgent, warning that a prolonged shutdown could worsen the crisis and further disrupt forensic services. Copies of the letter were also sent to the vice-principal, secretary, and other relevant offices. Several morgue employees, speaking on condition of anonymity, reported that the cooler has been completely non-functional for the past week and that no effective action has yet been taken despite informing the authorities.
They stated that the morgue normally has the capacity to preserve around 40 bodies, but due to the breakdown, only seven bodies can currently be accommodated. As a result, authorities are facing difficulties in receiving new bodies because of concerns over decomposition and foul odours. Bodies are now being kept on the morgue veranda and on room floors, creating an uncomfortable and potentially hazardous environment for staff. The strong smell has made it difficult for employees to perform their duties, while movement through adjacent passageways has also become challenging.
The employees added that the 40-body mortuary cooler had been provided to Dhaka Medical College Hospital by a foreign organisation and called for immediate intervention to restore the facility. Confirming the situation, DMC Principal Prof Dr Md Mazharul Shaheen said the hospital administration is aware of the problem and has already informed the higher authorities. ‘We hope the necessary steps will be taken soon to resolve the issue,’ he said.