Buried at last
Thirty-one fetuses, recovered from a dumpster of Sher-e-Bangla Medical College Hospital (SBMCH) in Barishal on Monday, were buried at a city graveyard after autopsies yesterday.
On Monday, conservancy workers of Barishal City Corporation (BCC) recovered those while cleaning the dumpster behind the hospital building around 9pm.
The incident drew widespread criticism.
The hospital authorities suspended Josna Begum, in-charge of nursing staff, for negligence in duties, said Dr Md Bakir Hossen, director of SBMCH.
“She knew that the fetuses were kept in jars inside a storeroom. She could have informed the hospital cleaners not to throw those away while cleaning the place,” he added.
He said they sent a letter to the director general of the Directorate General of Health Services with a recommendation to suspend Dr Khurshid Jahan, head of gynaecology and obstetrics department. Being the department head, she also cannot escape her responsibility, he added.
Contacted, Dr Jahan said she told the in-charge of nursing staff to clean the storeroom of the department as they were planning to use the space for students. “I joined here in July last year and did not know those fetuses were kept there in jars,” she claimed.
“Those were at least 20 to 25 years old and not used anymore as we use mannequins for examination and other learning purposes,” she said. Regarding the letter sent to the health services, she said she would explain her situation clearly once she receives it.
The director also said the fetuses were old and not being used anymore.
The hospital authorities formed a three-member probe committee, which will submit a report within three working days, he added.
Barishal Metropolitan Police Commissioner Mosharaf Hossain said a general diary was filed with Kotwali Police Station. One of the BCC cleaners also filed an unnatural death case with the police station.
The burial was organised by Anjuman-i-Himayat-i-Islam.
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