Newborn back from dead in critical state

The condition of the baby girl -- declared dead at Dhaka Medical College Hospital early Friday but found alive before burial hours later -- is critical. She is under treatment at the Neonatal Intensive Care unit at the hospital.

"Her condition is very critical... We are trying our level best," said Brig Gen AKM Nasir Uddin, director of the hospital.

A four-member probe body led by Dr Manisha Banerjee, head of the neonatology department, has been formed to investigate the incident. The probe body has been asked to submit its report within three days.

"We will take action upon receiving the findings," the director said.

The baby's father, Yeasin Mollah, said on Friday night he saw the baby moving her limbs.

He sought blessing from all for his child.

On Friday, a doctor at the hospital declared the baby dead after Yeasin's wife Shahinur Akter gave birth to her around 4:45am, after six and a half months' pregnancy.

Hospital staffers later put the baby in an abandoned box of gloves and asked Yeasin to take her to Azimpur graveyard, Yeasin, a driver by profession, alleged.

He took the baby to the graveyard, but since he did not have Tk 1,500 for burial, he was advised to go to Rayerbazar graveyard where the burial cost is comparatively lower.

Yeasin took the baby to the graveyard, a grave was dug but a couple of minutes before the burial, the box in Yeasin's hand moved and she showed signs of being alive.

He took the baby back to the hospital.

The DMCH director said the baby was put under observation for a couple of hours but was declared dead as there was no pulse after her premature birth.