United Hospital Fire: Travel ban imposed on chairman, 3 others

Police have imposed a travel ban on the top officials of United Hospital following the fire incident that killed five patients at their isolation unit.

The hospital's 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 would not be able to leave the country.

A high official of Gulshan Division Police yesterday told The Daily Star about the embargo.

Five patients -- Vernon Anthony Paul, 75, Riyajul Alam, 45, Khadeja Begum, 70, Monir Hossain, 75, and Md Mahabub, 50 -- were burnt to death at the isolation unit of the hospital on May 27.

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

Sudip Chakrabarty, deputy commissioner of Gulshan Division police, said they had already prepared an investigation report and submitted it to the High Court.

"We talked with eyewitness, doctors, nurses, security personnel and admin staffers to check whether they have performed their duties properly," he said.

"We know the chairman or the top officials are not supposed to be present at the spot but they are responsible for their managerial part," said DC Sudip who is also coordinating the investigation of the case.

For this reason, the persons who are related to the case would not be able to leave the country, explained the deputy commissioner.