Locals demonstrate, 2 probe bodies formed

Two separate probe bodies have been formed to investigate the incident at Phulbari Upazila Health Complex, in which a woman was compelled to give birth at an unhygienic place under a tree on the health complex compound on Sunday.

This newspaper published a news item on the incident with the headline “Nurses Indeed” in its August 13, 2018 issue.

The deputy commissioner's (DC) office formed a three-member body while the civil surgeon's (CS) office also formed another three-member body to investigate the incident separately.

Both bodies have been asked to submit their reports within three working days.

Phulbari Upazila Assistant Commissioner (Land) Enamul Haque is the head of the probe body formed by the DC office. Resident Medical Officer of the health complex Dr Sonjoy Kumar Gupta and Upazila Family Planning Officer Ismail Hossain are the other members of the committee.

Dr Gupta is also head of the body formed by the office of the CS. The other two members are medical officers of the health complex Dr Rois Uddin and Dr Muhrtema Fatema.

Director of the Directorate of Health in Rangpur Dr Mostafizur Rahman visited Phulbari Upazila Health Complex yesterday.

Dr Nurul Islam, the family planning officer and also in charge of the health complex, said they found the two nurses guilty during primary investigation.

Action will be taken against them after the probe reports are submitted.

Abu Taher, a van puller of Bashpukur village under Parbatipur upazila of Dinajpur, took his wife Rina Begum, 33, to Phulbari Upazila Health Complex in the early hours of Sunday as she felt strong labour pain.

He took his wife to the 1st floor of the health complex, but two nurses, Rozina Akter and Afroza Begum, allegedly refused to admit her and told her to go to a private clinic.

Abu Taher was waiting at the health complex compound to find a solution to the problem when the labour pains became more intense. A local woman came forward to help Rina at that time. Rina then gave birth under a tree.

A large number of women besieged the health complex yesterday, protesting the incident. The agitating women alleged that such incident is not new in the health complex. Patients suffer at every step when they come to the health complex for treatment.

“The nurses insulted the mother community in the country,” said local resident Aklima Khatun.

They demanded punishment of the nurses involved in the incident.