BPMCA Statement: Condemnation of Unpleasant Incident Centred on Child Death at Universal Medical

Printed On: Oct 5, 2026 || Published On: Oct 5, 2026

BPMCA Statement: Condemnation of Unpleasant Incident Centred on Child Death at Universal Medical

Sub-District Correspondent: Dulal Miah

The Bangladesh Private Medical College Association (BPMCA) has strongly condemned the unpleasant incident that occurred over the death of 4-year-old child Wise Kuruni Avhan at Universal Medical College Hospital in Mohakhali of the capital. In a statement, Association President Dr. Sheikh Mohiuddin condemned the creation of an unpleasant situation at the hospital by raising allegations of child death without any scientific evidence.

The statement said that the untimely demise of any child is extremely painful. The BPMCA family is also deeply grief-stricken at the death of child Avhan. However, to maintain transparency in the medical system and to remove confusion created in the public mind, the hospital authorities have already published detailed clinical information.

According to the hospital authorities, on the night of 28 September 2026, child Avhan came to the hospital’s outdoor department (OPD) with fever, nose bleeding and suspected haemorrhagic dengue fever. Senior Duty Specialist Dr. Nazrul Islam on duty at the PICU examined the child and advised admission under Professor Dr. Mahfuza Shirin, Head of the Neonatal Department of Dhaka Shishu Hospital. Immediately after admission, investigations confirmed a bacterial infection in the child’s body and antibiotics were started. As the vitals were good, the child was admitted to the paediatric ward.

While in the paediatric ward, several investigations were carried out every day. Although the dengue test came negative, other parameters—such as CRP, Ferritin, Procalcitonin, SGPT and SGOT—were clinically consistent with Dengue Extended Syndrome. Such reports are normally found during this dengue epidemic season. The treatment plan continued accordingly.

From the evening of 01 October 2026, the patient’s vitals gradually began to deteriorate. When Professor Dr. Mahfuza Shirin came to see the patient, the child’s mother informed that the baby was becoming weak (lethargic). Professor Shirin immediately checked the vitals and decided to transfer the child to the PICU for close monitoring. However, the patient’s mother expressed unwillingness to go to the PICU and said, “Give whatever treatment is to be given here.”

From the morning of 02 October, the child’s physical condition began to worsen further. At 1:30 pm, Professor Shirin again saw the patient and asked for a rapid shift to the PICU. But even then the patient’s relatives delayed. Later, after the relatives agreed, the patient was transferred to the PICU at 4 pm. After transfer to the PICU, Hartsol, Plasmasol infusion, Inj. Dobutamine and Inj. Nor-Adrenaline were added to raise the pressure.

From the morning of 03 October, the patient’s condition began to deteriorate rapidly. As the Troponin-I and Pro-BNP reports were high in favour of myocarditis, Inj. IVIG and Inj. Methylprednisolone were administered. At 3:30 pm, due to deterioration in the respiratory condition, the child was put on life support (ventilator) and a CV line was done. Despite administering all life-saving medicines, the patient suffered cardiac arrest and attempts were made to restore the heartbeat with CPR. Despite all efforts, the child expired at 5:02 pm.

The hospital authorities stated that Universal Medical College Hospital has been successfully treating numerous children in the NICU and PICU for a long time. This PICU and NICU have been operating under the supervision of two renowned professors. Along with them, specialist doctors holding MD and FCPS degrees in paediatrics, skilled nurses, medical officers and paediatric specialist registrars remain present 24 hours a day.

The BPMCA statement further said that any malicious attempt to damage the image of the hospital by spreading fragmented, false and motivated information on social media, bypassing the tireless hard work and dedicated efforts of the doctors, is undesirable and completely misleading. A sincere appeal has been made to the general public and respected well-wishers not to be misled by any kind of propaganda without verifying the real truth.

It is to be noted that BPMCA President Dr. Sheikh Mohiuddin recently voluntarily resigned from his post taking moral responsibility over the death of six newborns at Ad-din Medical College Hospital. He has long been working for the development of the private medical education sector.