'I endured the pain of carrying twins, now my babies are gone because of the hospital's negligence'
The twins were among six newborns in the hospital’s post-operative ward when the incident occurred early Wednesday.
Just two days after entering the world, twin baby boys who appeared healthy and free of complications died in the post-operative ward at Ad-Din Hospital.
The twins were among six newborns in the hospital's post-operative ward when the incident occurred early Wednesday.
Two of those who died were the sons of Nazma Begum, a resident of Sabujbagh in Dhaka.
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Recalling the night, Nazma told The Business Standard yesterday that the horrifying moments continue to haunt her.
"At around 2am, I suddenly saw one of my sons vomiting. I cleaned him myself. Then the other one vomited too," she said. "After a while, I saw the other babies in the ward crying as well."
Panic quickly spread across the ward.
"No one could manage anything. Mothers were running around carrying their babies. No one could even feed them properly," she said.
Describing the babies' condition, Nazma said, "They were writhing the way an animal struggles after slaughter."
She said the four hours between 2am and 6am were the most terrifying.
What alarmed her most, she alleged, was that no nurse or healthcare worker appeared during that period.
"We couldn't find anyone. There were no nurses. We didn't know where to go or whom to call. We couldn't leave our babies alone and go outside," she said.
She also claimed the air conditioner was not functioning at the time.
"The AC was off. It was very hot, unbearable. There was also a sharp smell in the room—especially noticeable when entering from outside," she said.
According to Nazma, the smell was not entirely new, but became stronger that night because the AC was turned off.
She said her babies had been completely healthy before the incident.
"They had no illness. Their weight was good. They didn't even have jaundice. The doctor who performed my caesarean checked on them for two days and even took photos," she said before breaking down in tears.
Nazma already has three sons, but she said the twins had brought extraordinary joy to the family.
"We were so happy… twins are a great blessing from Allah."
She said carrying twins came with significant physical hardship, but she endured it all.
"I travelled far from home for regular check-ups because we heard Ad-Din was a good hospital. Even after the C-section, the babies were healthy. The doctors and our whole family were happy."
That joy has now turned into overwhelming grief.
The parents did not even have time to name their babies.
Mohammad Hasan, the father, said they had planned to name them after being discharged from the hospital.
"But instead, the hospital handed us their bodies," he said, his voice heavy with grief.
Nazma said the physical pain from surgery has been compounded by the trauma of losing her newborn sons.
"My breast milk has come in, I have a fever, and I'm taking medicine. But whenever I think of my babies, I can't calm myself," she said.
"At night I feel alone. I was supposed to be beside my babies."
"For the two days they were with me, I held them in my arms constantly. My neck hurts, my body hurts—but that physical pain is nothing compared to seeing their faces in front of my eyes all the time. How will I live without them now?"
A Health Directorate investigation committee spoke to Nazma yesterday afternoon.
Her only demand now, she said, is accountability.
"If there was negligence, those responsible must be punished. No other mother should have to suffer like this."
Early Wednesday morning, six newborns died in the post-operative ward on the second floor of Ad-Din Hospital in Moghbazar.
Police suspect the deaths may have been caused by a leak in the air-conditioning gas line or another mechanical fault.
The Directorate General of Health Services has formed an investigation committee, which is scheduled to submit its report on 3 June.
