Syed Shemul Parvez :
An investigation report of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has revealed that a woman named Raushan had Ara died at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) due to cut off two kidneys while undergoing a kidney transplant operation.
In the report, NHRC has recommended departmental punishment against four including BSMMU Physician Professor Habibur Rahman Dulal, his Assistant Physician Faruk Hossain and Associate Professor and Chief of Forensic Department of Dhaka Medical College & Hospital (DMCH) Dr. Sohel Mahmud.
Besides, the NHRC has also recommended departmental punishment against the former OC of Shahbagh Police Station alleging irresponsibility in investigating the incident.
Allegations have been raised that on October 31, 2018, victim Raushan Ara died after ‘planned’ removal of her two kidneys while undergoing surgery to remove a damaged kidney.
Two years after the incident, after receiving an autopsy report, Raushan’s son, filmmaker Rafiq Sikder, filed a murder case against four BSMMU doctors at the capital’s Shahbagh Police Station.
The main accused in the case is Habibur Rahman Dulal, a professor of Urology at BSMMU.
Three other accused are Associate Professor Faruk Hossain, Physician Mostafa Kamal and Al Mamun of the same department. In this context, the NHRC formed a two-member investigating committee on November 24.
Following the investigation, the committee has submitted its findings and recommendations to the court recently.
According to the recommendation, two doctors of BSMMU were fined Tk 75 lakh and the head of DMCH Forensic Department was fined Tk 25 lakh.
Besides, punishment has been recommended against the then OC of Shahbagh Police Station for his negligence in duty.
According to the NHRC inquiry committee report, the concerned ministry may be asked to submit a speedy investigation report to the court after taking legal action against the accused doctors.
It may be referred to the Supreme Court for investigation against physicians and others.
Besides, BSMMU can be asked to take departmental action against accused Professor Dr. Habibur Rahman Dulal and his assistant Physician Farooq Hossain.
According to the recommendation report, the doctors of BSMMU have committed a criminal offense by cutting off two kidneys of Raushan Ara (Section 304 of the Penal Code).
So, the concerned authorities may be asked to take effective measures for recovery of compensation from Professor Habibur Rahman Dulal (with deduction from pension money if necessary).
But fact is that the BSMMU authorities have taken steps to protect the guilty doctors without taking any legal or departmental action, which is undesirable.
In addition, the Head of the Forensic Department of DMCH Sohail Mahmud and three other doctors wrote the autopsy report of the deceased Raushan Ara without evidence and capriciously.
In this case, Dr. Sohail Mahmood has committed serious irregularities, arbitrariness and unusual delays.
However, DMCH authorities have been also asked to take departmental action against three doctors, including Sohail Mahmud, who conducted the autopsy.
In this regard, when asked Vice-Chancellor of BSMMU Prof Dr Kanak Kanti Barua told the New Nation that they have not yet got the recommendation report of the NHRC inquiry committee. After getting the report they may think on the issue.
Rafiq Sikder, son of the victim and also the plaintiff of the case, demanded the punishment against those who neglected his mother’s medical treatment and other matters.
