Bangladesh Health Minister Sardar Md. Sakhawat Hossain expressed outrage over the deaths of 33 children at Rajshahi Medical College Hospital within 11 days, reportedly due to a lack of ICU ventilators. Speaking at an event on medical ethics in Dhaka’s Shahbagh on Saturday, he said the hospital director failed to inform authorities about the shortage and declared that such negligence was unacceptable.

The minister said the director initially dismissed media reports as exaggerated but later admitted their accuracy after an official report confirmed the situation. Citing bureaucratic delays in government procurement, Hossain said he personally arranged to buy three ventilators through private support and was working to secure two more. He also urged doctors to uphold professional ethics, avoid negligence during surgeries, and maintain responsible behavior toward patients.

Hossain further criticized instances of sexual misconduct by physicians and emphasized the need for continuous learning and training to keep up with global medical advancements.