Staff Reporter :
A Covid-19 patient has allegedly killed himself after fleeing from Mugda General Hospital in the capital. Police recovered his body hanging from a tree near his home in Adabor on Saturday morning.
The deceased was identified as Abdul Mannan Khanadaker, caretaker of a building in the area.
Police suspect that Mannan committed suicide.
Two doctors and nurses and four security guards got ‘show cause’ notice for the incident.
Abdul Momin, sub-inspector of Adabor police station, said Mannan was tested positive for the virus on June 13, and was admitted two days later to Mugda General Hospital, a dedicated Covid-19 hospital. His wife and two children were also infected with the virus.
Assistant Commissioner Rowshanul Haque of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police Mohammadpur zone said Mannan fled from the hospital on Friday night, four days after he was admitted there. “Out of desperation he may have committed suicide.”
However, in addition to frustration, the police are investigating whether there was a family feud or a professional dispute with someone.
Mr. Hossain said an unnatural death case has been registered at Adabar police station.
The deceased’s family told police that Mannan was suffering from frustration after getting infected with the virus.
Mannan called his wife on Friday night and complained about having breathing problems. He told his wife that he may not survive as his condition was deteriorating, said SI Momin. It was the last call Mannan made and his cell phone was switched off since then.
Not receiving proper service at the hospital, he complained to his wife on Friday afternoon.
Although he told his wife that he was physically healthy.
However, Mamata said that her husband was suffering from ‘stress’ and ‘depression’ on various issues.
“My daughter and I were affected by it. He was tensed about it. Then on Friday he said he was not being treated properly at the hospital. We said I would bring him home. But he said he had diabetes and it was better to stay there (at the hospital).”
Mugda General Hospital Director Mohammad Abul Hashem Sheikh did not want to accept the allegation of not getting treatment and services at the hospital.
“No one has made such a complaint to us. If we do, we will look into it and take action.”
However, the hospial authorities have formed an investigation committee into Mannan’s escape from the hospital and his subsequent suicide.
“Two doctors, two nurses on duty at the time and four Ansar members in charge of security at the time have also been given ‘show cause’ notices for Mannan’s escape from the hospital. We have also ‘show-caused’ those who were responsible for deteriorating of patients’ mental health.”
However, neither the hospital authorities nor the doctors on duty could say whether the man had ‘mental imbalance’ or not, said the director of Mugda General Hospital.
