Death of Agricultural University Student: Probe negligence of hall authorities
Students of Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU) yesterday demonstrated on the campus protesting the death of a fellow student allegedly due to the negligence of the authorities.
The dead, Harranii Janaki Raman, 20, was from Malaysia and a second-year student at the Faculty of Veterinary Science.
Raman, a resident student of Begum Rokeya Hall, started having breathing difficulties on Friday evening and was taken to the BAU Health Centre where she was given primary treatment.
When her condition deteriorated around 9:00pm, doctors referred her to Mymensingh Medical College Hospital (MMCH), but she could not be shifted immediately as no ambulance was available at that time.
Students then took her to MMCH around 9:30pm and doctors declared her dead around 1:15am on Saturday.
Prof Abdul Hannan Mia, head of the medicine department at MMCH, told The Daily Star that the girl had long been suffering from respiratory problems and was brought in a critical condition.
“We tried to shift her to the Intensive Care Unit, but could not do so as there was no seat available,” the doctor said.
Students yesterday held a sit-in programme in front of the residence of BAU vice-chancellor, demanding the removal of Dean of Faculty of Veterinary Science Prof Nazim Uddin Ahmed, Begum Rokeya Hall provost Prof Mohammad Ziaul Haque and university health centre’s Chief Medical Officer Fayez Ahmed for their alleged negligence in failing to shift the girl to MMCH immediately.
They placed a nine-point demand that includes a fair investigation into the negligence of the hall authorities and modernisation of facilities at the health centre.
No classes and exams were held yesterday.
The protesters also alleged the hall Provost Ziaul Haque was informed but he did not come to the scene immediately. Denying the allegation, Ziaul, however, said he rushed to the spot soon after hearing the news.
Talking to this correspondent, university’s Proctor Prof Md Azharul Haque said they could not shift the student to MMCH immediately as the lone ambulance of the health centre was out of the campus.
Students returned to their dormitories after VC Prof Lutful Hassan assured them that the authorities would conduct a fair investigation into the allegations.
The body was handed over to the father of the girl on Sunday, said the proctor, adding that the family had no complaint to file regarding the death.
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