United Hospital fire: travel ban on top brass

Police have imposed a travel ban on top officials, including the chairman of United Hospital Limited, following a fire incident that left five patients dead at the Covid-19 isolation unit of the hospital.

United Hospital Limited Chairman Hasan Mahmood Raja, Managing Director Faridur Rahman Khan, Chief Executive Officer Mohammad Faizur Rahman, and Chief of Clinical Development and Governance Dr Abu Sayeed MM Rahman are not allowed to leave the country, a high official of Gulshan Division Police told The Daily Star today.

On May 27, five people -- Vernon Anthony Paul (75), Riyajul Alam (45), Khadeja Begum (70), Monir Hossain (75), and Md Mahabub (50) -- died in the fire at the isolation unit of the hospital.

Ronald Ricky Gomez, son-in-law of Anthony Paul, filed the case with Gulshan Police Station on June 3, accusing the hospital's chairman, CEO, directors, doctors, nurses and other staffers of negligence and disregard in their duties, said police.

Sudip Chakrabarty, deputy commissioner of Gulshan Division police, told The Daily Star that police have already prepared an investigation report after talking with 38 people to find out reasons behind the fire.

"We talked with eyewitnesses, doctors, nurses, security personnel and admin staff to check whether they have performed their duties properly or not," he said.

DC Sudip said that the patients were kept under responsibility of the doctor and two nurses who were on duty at the isolation unit and they were supposed to take steps for evacuation of the patients but the investigation found that they did not perform their duties properly.

"We have already submitted the investigation report to the High Court," he said.

Now, police are working to check every person's "individual responsibility", said the officer.

"We know the chairman or the top officials are not supposed to be present at the spot but they are responsible from their part in the management. The admin and security sections have their responsibility, and doctor and nurses are also responsible," said DC Sudip, who is also coordinating the investigation of the case.

"We want to proceed gradually and check every step so that we can specifically identify and analyse everyone's responsibility," he also said.

For this reason, the persons who are related with the case and the incident will not be able to leave the country, the deputy commissioner added.