A large quantity of expired medical supplies, including unused masks and personal protective equipment (PPE) from the COVID-19 period, was burned at Faridpur Medical College Hospital, causing heavy smoke across the hospital premises.
The materials were burned in the hospital courtyard from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm on Monday (April 6) with support from the fire service. Hospital authorities said the disposal was carried out with approval from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. they declined to disclose the full list of destroyed items.
Dr. Omar Faisal, assistant director of the hospital and member secretary of the disposal committee, said expired materials had not been destroyed since 2016. Over the years, unusable and expired MSR linen and other items accumulated in various wards items were later listed by a condemnation committee and sent to the ministry for approval.
He said a total of 39,570 items across 16 categories were destroyed by a five-member committee that included representatives from the district administration, public works, and environment departments. However, he did not provide details of the approved list.
On-site observation in the afternoon showed the materials being burned about 20–30 meters from the hospital’s new nine-storey building. Thick smoke and a strong odor spread across the hospital and nearby areas. At least 10 trees, including two coconut trees, were damaged.
Many cartons filled with PPE and KN95 masks were seen being burned. The PPE packages indicated each contained 50 units weighing 13.5 kg. Labels showed they were imported from a Chinese company on August 16, 2020, with a validity of two years. The KN95 mask cartons also contained multiple boxed units, all destroyed along with packaging.
Other burned items included unusable beds, bed sheets, pillow covers, and curtains.
A fire service team was present to control the situation. Team leader Nisar Hossain said they were assigned to monitor and manage the fire if needed and were not informed about the specific materials.
Hospital Director Dr. Md. Humayun Kabir said the condemnation committee inspected wards, prepared the list, and sent it to the ministry. The destruction was carried out with official approval and in the presence of relevant authorities, including a magistrate.
