Health Minister Sardar Md. Sakhawat Husain on Sunday strongly criticized opposition Jamaat-e-Islami lawmakers for defending Ad-din Hospital following the suspension of its license, asserting that the action was a necessary response to "utter negligence" that resulted in the deaths of six infants.

Participating in the general discussion on the proposed national budget for the 2026-2027 fiscal year, the Minister challenged the opposition’s defense, stating, "Why do you link every issue with your party ideology? One cannot oppose the country in the name of ideology, which you had done in 1971."

Addressing the House, Minister Husain emphasized his commitment to public welfare, declaring, "Being the health minister, I must look after the health and welfare of my people. My children cannot be allowed to die without treatment."

While acknowledging the opposition's claim that Ad-din Hospital provides dialysis services at subsidized rates of BDT 200 to BDT 250, he remained firm on the accountability of the facility.

Responding to opposition members who questioned if a "headache should be treated by cutting off the head," the Minister countered, "I say ‘No’, it should not. But those who cut off heads must be brought to justice."

Describing the harrowing circumstances leading to the tragedy, the Health Minister alleged that the newborns perished after the air conditioning system was turned off in a windowless room that lacked an oxygen supply.

"The babies were gasping for breath while 16 or 17 mothers ran around helplessly. They eventually collapsed and died due to carbon dioxide accumulation. Even the owner did not come to see the situation," he stated.

Following his personal visit to the hospital the next day, where he interviewed two doctors, the Minister asserted that the deaths were undeniably caused by negligence and a lack of medical resources.

"Should we have remained silent? Hospital discipline comes first. Bangladesh comes first," he remarked.

The Minister further alleged that the hospital’s safety violations extended beyond the neonatal ward, noting that a bakery had been established adjacent to the facility in breach of safety standards, posing a grave fire risk.

"If a fire broke out there, no patient or attendant would be able to escape… This happened because of the owner's negligence," he said.

Rejecting comparisons between this incident and a previous fire at United Hospital during the Covid-19 pandemic, Husain clarified that the United Hospital fire was deemed an accident, whereas the Ad-din case represents "gross negligence."

Concluding his defense of the government’s intervention, the Minister clarified that the hospital's license had only been suspended rather than permanently revoked.

"We have not asked to cut off heads. We have only suspended its license. We, the government, are overseeing it. But you should not do politics for partisan gain," he told the opposition benches.

With Inputs from UNB