The madrasa student from Feni’s Sonagazi, who was set on fire allegedly by followers of her institution’s principal, will need to wait for a few more days to be taken to Singapore for better treatment, doctors at Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) have said.
At a press briefing on Wednesday, Dr Samanta Lal Sen, chief coordinator of DMCH burn unit, said they have talked to the doctors at Singapore General Hospital via videoconferencing.
“The doctors in Singapore said her physical condition should improve further. She is not yet fit to be flown at high altitude,” he said.
Earlier, they sent her updated medical reports to the physicians in Singapore, he added.
“Several Singapore consultants, including those of ICU and kidney departments, and physicians of the DMCH burn unit sat for the videoconference. After examining the reports, the consultants came to a conclusion that the patient’s condition had not improved that much so she can fly for five hours. It is difficult to take her through high altitude,” said Dr Sen.
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Earlier on Tuesday, a two-hour surgery, for compression-related complications, was performed on her.
About Tuesday’s surgery, he said, “Burns usually extend to the dermis layer, and can be superficial, of partial thickness or deep partial thickness in depth. So the skin of her chest became tight. We just released that (compression). She was facing difficulties in breathing… that has lessened.”
State Minister for Health and Family Welfare Dr M Murad Hasan, who was also present at the briefing, said the decision to continue her treatment at DMCH came from Singapore. “When the patient‘s condition gets better, we will take her to Singapore,” he said.
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He also mentioned that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is enquiring about the patient’s health status regularly.
On Monday, the prime minister ordered the DMCH authorities to transfer the 18-year-old to Singapore for better treatment, if needed. The patient, with 75% burns, was put on life support after her condition deteriorated.
The female student was set on fire after she went to Sonagazi Islamia Fazil (Degree) Madrasa on April 6 to sit for her alim examinations.
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According to her family, four burqa-clad students called her to the institute’s roof and asked her to withdraw a case her family had filed last month against Principal Sirajuddaula for allegedly trying to rape her.
The unidentified students set her on fire after pouring kerosene on her when she refused.
Other students rescued her after hearing her cries and took her to Sonagazi Upazila Health complex with the help of police. From there, she was moved to Feni General Hospital, and later transferred to DMCH.
