Staff Reporter :
Doctors at the Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) on Tuesday performed a surgery on the Feni madrasa girl Nusrat Jahan Rafi, who was burned critically by unknown attackers on April 6.
The two-hour long operation has been done keeping on her life support, said DMCH authorities.
“The operation started at 10:30am and ended at 12:30pm,” Prof Dr Abul Kalam, Head of the Medical Board, formed for the treatment of the madrasa girl, told The New Nation.
He said operation called an ‘escharotomy’ has been performed for the recovery of the compression related complication of the burnt victim.
“Patients with severe burns that cover a high percentage of their body require an emergency burn treatment procedure called an ‘escharotomy,’ he added.
The Feni madrasa girl with ‘third degree’ (life threatening) burns has been admitted to the burn unit of DMCH on April 6.
She has been kept at the hospital’s Intensive Care Unit (ICU).
DMCH authorities eralier formed a nine-member medical board for treatment of the 18 year-old girl who was set on fire for allegedly refusing to withdraw a case filed against the principal of Sonagazi Islamia Senior Fazil Madrasa, for sexually harassing her late last month.
“The surgery has been done at the advice of doctors of the Singapore General Hospital,” said Prof Dr Abul Kalam.
He said the update of her treatment will be sent to Singapore regularly.
“Medical reports of the girl to be mailed time to time to the doctors of Singapore General hospital so that they can make their efforts in treating the girl. We are maintaining regulator communication with them,” said Dr Abul Kalam.
Moreover, a group of physicians from Singapore General Hospital will arrive Dhaka on April 15 to join a programme here. “They will stay Dhaka for five days. If the condition of the burned girl is good then, they will monitor her, ” added Dr Abul Kalam
“We have conducted the operation keeping her on life support,” Brigadier General Nasir Uddin, a Director of DMCH, told newsmen on Tuesday.
He said the burned girl is facing a number of complications. Alongside blood and lung infection, problems developed in her kidney.
He said they were trying to provide the girl the best treatment.
“We hope the girl will survive. He requested the countrymen to pray for her,” Nasir Uddin added.
However, the Feni madrasa girl cannot be sent to Singapore for better treatment due to her current condition.
“The five-hour plane journey might be very risky for her,” Dr Samanta Lal Sen, coordinator of DMCH’s Burn and Plastic Surgery Unit said this quoting doctors of Singapore General Hospital.
Physicians of Singapore General Hospital informed the matter to doctors in the burn unit of DMCH during a video conference at 9:00am, Dr Samanta Lal Sen said.
“They have also given some new suggestions for the treatment of the girl and we have already implemented those,” he added.
The DMCH authorities earlier sent the girls medical documents the Singapore hospital for their opinions about sending her there.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina directed the DMCH authorities to send the girl to Singapore.
“Condition of the girl now is a little better, but not stable. Her condition is fluctuating. Her condition might improve in the morning, but it might suddenly deteriorate in the afternoon,” Dr Samanta Lal Sen said.
Sources in the DMCH said the Feni madrasa girl is still in life-threatening condition as she received third degree burn.
They said although the escharotomy is performed on the patient as part of a life-saving procedure, successful result is not guaranteed.
Menwhile, a Feni court on Tuesday put four people on a five-day remand each in connection with a case filed for setting madrasa student Nusrat Jahan Rafi on fire.
Senior Judicial Magistrate Saraf Uddin Ahmed passed the order after Kamal Hossain, a sub-inspector of Sonagazi Police Station also investigation officer of the case, produced the four accused before the court with a remand prayer.
The four accused are: Nur Hossain, Alauddin, Kefaet Ullah and Saidul Islam, reports our local correspondent.
Police on Monday arrested Afsar Uddin, 33, a teacher of English department of the madrasa, and Ariful Islam, 22, an Alim examinee, in connection with the case.
Police also detained Md Mostafa, 38, nightguard of the madrasa and office assistants Nurul Amin, 50, Alauddin, 25, Saidul Islam 30, and Jasim Uddin, 30, for interrogation.
Later, Afsar and Ariful were sent to jail after police produced them before a local court showing them accused in the case.
