Stalked, stabbed schoolgirl needs better treatment

Treatment of Class VIII girl Zakia Sultana, who got 42 stabs by a rejected suitor at Bochaganj of Dinajpur on September 7, is hampered due to financial crisis.

Zakia, 14, is daughter of Zomshed Ali, a nayek of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), and resident of Labour Linepara under Bochaganj municipality in Dinajpur.

"I have already spent Tk 5 lakh for her treatment. All my savings are finished. Now I hope the prime minister would extend help to save my daughter," Zomshed, posted at 38 BGB in Satkhira district, told this correspondent over phone yesterday.

"My daughter's both hands are still in danger. She would undergo another surgery on Thursday [today]," said the father, in a choked voice.

On September 29, Major General Aziz Ahmed, director general of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), took the girl to Pilkhana BGB Hospital for treatment after the BGB nayek wrote to him, seeking help.

But a doctor of Dinajpur Medical College Hospital seeking anonymity said Pilkhana BGB Hospital is not capable to deal with such a critical patient.

Ibrahim Ali 21, son of late Kafil Uddin of Sugar Mill road, stabbed Zakia at her home on September 7. Ibrahim, whose marriage proposal to Zakia was rejected a year ago, had continued stalking the girl.

She was taken to Dinajpur Medical College Hospital, then to Rangpur Medical College Hospital and lastly to Orthopaedic Hospital in Dhaka on September 9.

"When doctors of Orthopaedic Hospital told me that her both hands would have to be cut off, I took her to a private hospital in Dhaka. Her condition was improving there but the treatment was too costly for me," said Zomshed.

Hamidul Alam, superintendent of police of Dinajpur, said, "Arrested accused Ibrahim Ali confessed to his crime."