Suhrawardy Medical College and Hospital has resumed operations partially after Thursday’s fire was brought under control.
The patients, who were on the hospital grounds have been shifted to the building, confirmed the hospital’s Health Department’s Director General Abul Kalam Azad.
“Apart from a few wards on the third floor, treatment started in all the other wards at night,” he said.
He added that since the fire, around 1,100 patients have been shifted to other hospitals.
“They can come back or continue receiving treatment there. We will fully cooperate.”
Health and Family Welfare Secretary GM Saleh Uddin said, “The fire started in ward 9. Fire Service started working immediately after the fire broke out and 17 units worked to bring it under control.”
He said that that the fire was brought under control within an hour and fifteen minutes.
He added that the emergency department of the hospital was still operating and a probe committee has been formed to determine the cause of fire and extent of damage.
“The committee will submit the report within three working days.”
Saleh said that the committee, comprising of representatives from the directorate general of health, fire service, disaster management and relief ministry, public works development, power department and the hospital director general’s office will be headed by the additional health secretary.
Fire Service Director General Ali Ahmed Khan said that there were no casualties given the hospital’s many exits.
The Health Directorate chief Abul Kalam Azad said, “The doctors said that they noticed the smoke on the third floor. The power was turned off immediately.”
He added that around 70 children were admitted in the ward and they were moved to safety on time.