Health Minister Sardar Md Sakhawat Husain on Sunday defended the government's decision to suspend the licence of Ad-din Hospital, saying the action was taken because of gross negligence that led to the deaths of six newborn babies.

Speaking during the general discussion on the proposed national budget for the 2026-27 fiscal year in Parliament, the minister criticised opposition Jamaat lawmakers for defending the hospital and accused them of politicising the issue.

"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," he said, addressing members of the opposition benches.

"As the health minister, I must look after the health and welfare of my people. My children cannot be allowed to die without treatment," he said, adding that the hospital had been granted permission to operate on the condition that it maintained proper standards and discipline.

The minister acknowledged that Ad-din Hospital provides dialysis services at subsidised rates of Tk200 to Tk250, as opposition lawmakers had pointed out, but said such services could not justify negligence that endangered patients' lives.

Responding to criticism from Jamaat MPs, who questioned whether "a headache should be treated by cutting off the head", Sakhawat said: "We have not asked to cut off heads. We have only suspended its licence. We, the government, are overseeing it. But you should not do politics for partisan gain." 

Rejecting comparisons with the deadly fire at United Hospital during the COVID-19 pandemic, the minister said the two incidents were fundamentally different.

"The licence of United Hospital was not suspended after six people died in a fire because it was an accident. What happened at Ad-din Hospital was an incident of gross negligence.”

Describing the circumstances surrounding the deaths, Sakhawat alleged, "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 after the incident.”

The minister said he personally visited the hospital the following day and spoke to two doctors.

"I found that the babies died because of negligence and a lack of oxygen. Should we have remained silent? Hospital discipline comes first. Bangladesh comes first," he said.

He further alleged that a bakery had been built adjacent to the hospital in violation of safety standards, creating a serious 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 alleged.