Khulna clinic sealed as baby dies, doctor flees

The mother is now fighting for life at Khulna Surgical Clinic at Sonadanga, where she was shifted from Nazma Clinic due to profuse bleeding after the operation.

The latest incident raised the number of deaths from such operations under candle light to five in last 18 months in the city. Four women died in different clinics in the city earlier.

Rexona Khatoon, 32, daughter of Iddris Ali Shaikh of Shuvodia village under Fakirhat upazila of Bagerhat, was admitted to Nazma Clinic at Khan Jahan Ali Road Wednesday afternoon for a childbirth.

Proprietor of the clinic, Dr Nazma Begum, took Rexona Khatoon to operation theatre (OI) at 8-30 pm for caesarian operation.

The operation was conducted under candle and torchlight as electricity failed five minutes after the woman was taken to the OT.

The baby died during the operation done by Dr. Nazma and her assistants Dr Latif and Dr Nurul Amin.

The incident angered her relatives, who, joined by some local people, attacked the clinic with brickbats causing extensive damage.

The mob caught handed Dr Latif and Dr Nurul Amin and handed them over to police while Dr Nazma and two other employees of her clinic fled away. They are still absconding, police said.

Iddris Ali Shaikh filed a case with Khulna thana on Thursday naming five persons as accused.

The FIR-named accused are Dr Nazma Begum, Dr MA Latif, Dr Nurul Amin, Mohammad Mohsin and Utpal Dutta.

Police said Dr Nurul Amin was working as health assistant at Morrelganj Upazila Health Complex in Bagerhat while Dr Latif is medical officer at Batiadanga Upazila Health Complex.

Police on Thursday produced Dr Latif and Dr Nurul Amin before a court, which granted them bail.

Police said Nazma Begum was a senior staff nurse at Khulna Medical College Hospital till 2004.

According to sources in Khulna unit of Bangladesh Clinic and Diagnostic Owners' Association, there are 123 clinics in the metropolitan city, out of which 32 are approved while the rest are operating illegally.

Most of the illegal clinics do not have proper equipment, experienced doctors and health assistants, they said.