HC seeks explanation for 20 peoples' blindness following surgery in Chuadanga
The High Court today summoned the director general of Directorate of Health Services and the civil surgeon of Chuadanga to appear before it on July 9 to give an explanation about the incident of 20 people losing eyesight following surgeries at a health centre on March 5.
The bench of Justice FRM Nazmul Ahasan and Justice KM Kamrul Kader passed the order during hearing a rule issued earlier in this regard.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel. Twenty persons lost their eyes following surgeries at the Impact Masudul Haque Memorial Community Health Centre (IMHMCHC) in Chuadanga on March 5 as the authorities did not adopt appropriate safety measures, according to a report published on Bangla daily Samakal on March 29.
Following a writ petition, the HC on April 1 issued the rule asking the director and a physician of IMHMCHC in Chuadanga to explain why they should not be directed to give Tk 20 crore in compensation to 20 people who lost their eyesight.
Advocate Amit Das Gupta, who submitted the writ petition, told The Daily Star that the HC today summoned the director general of Directorate of Health Services and the civil surgeon of Chuadanga to appear before it on July 9 so that they can give an explanation about the incident.
Director of IMHMCHC Hasib Mahmud and its physician Mohammad Shahin, who reportedly conducted the eye surgeries on 20 poor people, had been asked to give the explanation in two weeks.
In the rule, the court also asked the respondents to show causes why inaction of Hasib and Shahin in adopting proper safety measures while conducting the eye operations should not be declared illegal.
Health secretary, home secretary, director general of the Directorate of Health Services, civil surgeon of Chuadanga, deputy commissioner and superintendent of police of Chuadanga, director of IMHMCHC Hasib Mahmud and its physician Shahin have been made respondents to the rule.
Barrister M Amir-Ul Islam appeared for IMHMCHC and sought time from the court for taking preparation to place arguments.