TDS Desk:

Two nurses at Feni 250-bed General Hospital have been suspended for cooking food inside an operating theatre (OT), authorities said.

The suspensions were ordered yesterday (11 January) through separate directives issued by the Directorate General of Nursing and Midwifery.

Those suspended are Nursing Supervisor Kalpana Rani Mondol and Senior Staff Nurse Rani Bala Halder. Kalpana Rani Mondol is from Barishal, while Rani Bala Halder hails from Bagerhat.

The suspension orders were signed by Md Anwar Hossain Akand, director general (additional charge) of the Directorate General of Nursing and Midwifery and joint secretary of the Health Services Division.

According to the orders, cooking on a gas stove inside the operating theatre of the labour ward is an act of extreme irresponsibility and a violation of discipline.

File Photo

Videos of the cooking incident spread on social media and were also reported by the media, which, the orders said, damaged the image of the nursing profession. Such behaviour is unacceptable under any circumstances, they added.

The nurses have been placed under suspension to facilitate the filing of departmental cases and ensure a fair investigation. However, they will receive subsistence allowance as per government rules during the suspension period.

Feni General Hospital Superintendent Mohammad Saiful Islam said, “We have received copies of the suspension orders of the nursing supervisor and another nurse. Necessary steps will be taken in line with the orders. The hospital authorities are also conducting an investigation into the incident.”

The incident occurred recently in the hospital’s operating theatre. On Thursday (8 January) morning, a 1-minute and 7-second video showing nurses cooking spread widely on social media.

The video shows two nurses preparing a winter delicacy known locally as kholaja pitha inside the operating theatre, while other nurses move freely around them. An adjacent room is used for surgical procedures on pregnant women.

The video also shows unrestricted movement of patients’ attendants inside the operation area. Along with the pitha-making ingredients, utensils, plates, pots and pans are visible inside the operation theatre.

Hospital sources said the labour ward of the 250-bed hospital is located on the second floor of an old building. The operating theatre there is used for deliveries and other services for maternity patients.

A gas stove is installed in the ward for sterilising medical instruments and heating water. The same stove has reportedly been used regularly by on-duty nurses to cook food.

Following the incident, hospital authorities formed a three-member investigation committee. Assistant Director of Feni General Hospital Md Jalal Hossain was made the convener, Resident Medical Officer (RMO) Shoaib Imtiaz Nila the member secretary, and junior consultant of the surgery department Md Adnan Ahmed a member.