Minister leaves Mymensingh Hospital without visiting fire site

State Minister for Disaster Management and Relief M Iqbal Hossain left Mymensingh Medical College Hospital on Wednesday (September 16) without visiting the site of a recent fire or speaking to victims and eyewitnesses during his inspection.

The minister, who is also chairman of the hospital management committee, was scheduled to arrive around 9:45am but reached the hospital at about 11:10am.

Hospital officials and senior doctors received him and took him to the director’s office. Hospital director Brig Gen Mohammad Zakir Hossain was absent due to illness.

After a closed-door meeting with hospital officials and doctors, the minister left at around 12:22pm. Speaking briefly before getting into his vehicle, he said the meeting focused mainly on improving hospital management and addressing its operational problems.

When reporters asked about the fire and reported deaths, Mymensingh-4 MP and management committee vice-chairman Abu Wahab Akand Wahid responded on the minister’s behalf. He denied that anyone had died after being trampled, saying some patients had fallen unconscious or become critically ill amid panic caused by the fire.

Wahid also disputed reports of six deaths, saying one person listed among the deceased was still receiving treatment. He claimed two of the reported deaths were from natural causes and two were linked to panic, while denying deaths from burns or trampling.

Asked about relatives’ claims that people had died after being trampled, Iqbal Hossain said an investigation committee had been formed and that the findings would determine the facts.

The minister was also questioned about the hospital treating nearly four times its normal patient load and shortages or damage to medical equipment. He said the problems could not be resolved overnight and that engineers had been instructed to prepare plans to address them.

A larger meeting would be held later to discuss the measures, he said.