The authorities of Ad-din Medical College Hospital have decided to pay Tk80 lakh in compensation to each of the families of six newborns, aged between one and four days, who died at the hospital on 27 May.

On behalf of the hospital, its lawyer, Mohammad Shishir Manir, announced the decision on Sunday, following discussions between the affected families and the hospital authorities.

The move came right after a Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) probe committee found clear negligence by the hospital authorities, nurses, and staff, as well as the absence of an on-duty physician, responsible for the deaths.

On Thursday, Health Minister Sardar Md Sakhawat Husain disclosed the findings at a press conference.

At a separate press conference on Saturday, Shishir Manir said the hospital had suspended two employees, Rekha Akter and Nasima Begum, after finding their negligence linked to the deaths.

Meanwhile, DGHS has extended the deadline by 48 hours, until Monday, for the hospital to respond to a show-cause notice asking why its licence should not be cancelled following the tragedy.

Earlier, the hospital had been given 72 hours to respond, with the original deadline expiring at 5pm on Sunday.

DGHS Director (Hospitals) Abu Hussain Md Moinul Ahsan confirmed the extension, saying that as Friday and Saturday fell within the original deadline, additional time was granted at the hospital’s request, adding that it would be the final extension.

The health ministry has warned that legal action could be taken against the hospital if its response to a DGHS show-cause notice is deemed unsatisfactory.