Dhaka Medical College Hospital authorities have formed a nine member medical board to treat the infant who miraculously survived a shooting and was admitted to the hospital early on Sunday.
The board, which will be led by Professor Abid Hossain Mollah, head of the paediatric department at DMCH, will be formed to monitor the infant’s condition.
Doctors said the condition of the newborn, who sustained bullet injuries while in the womb, is stable. However, she might lose sight in her right eye as a result of the injuries. However, doctors have not given confirmation about the loss.
In the meantime, the mother of the baby, Nazma Khatun’s condition was improving yesterday, and she might come to DMCH in the afternoon today to see her baby, her relatives said.
Professor Ashraf-ul-Haq Kajol, one of the members of the board, told Dhaka Tribune that Nazma’s baby is out of danger.
However, she is now under monitoring by the medical team, he said, adding: “We are hopeful of returning the baby to her mother’s lap.”
Dr Kaniz Hasina of the department overseeing the treatment of the infant said, as part of this treatment, an eye specialist of the hospital has examined the baby. Though nothing can be said yet about the condition of the baby’s right eye, the specialist said she might lose eyesight in that eye.
She will recover from her other injuries very soon, and hopefully these will not create any serious problems for the baby, the doctor added.
The baby was born after a four-hour long caesarean operation on her mother at Magura General Hospital on Friday night.
The newborn received bullet injuries when her eight-month pregnant mother was shot in the abdomen during an attack by a Magura Jubo League faction on the extended family of another rival faction on Friday afternoon. The attack left one of the family members dead and another person injured.
The mother was also worried about her child, and wanted to come to Dhaka. But in observing her own health condition, doctors advised her to wait at the hospital and said she would be released on Wednesday morning, said Bachchu Bhuiyan, Nazma’s husband.
The incident took place when pro-ruling party activists Azibar Sheikh and Mohammad Ali along with several of their followers attacked Kamrul Bhuiyan and his relatives who too belong to a pro-ruling group.
Nazma is the wife of Kamrul’s elder brother, Bachhu Bhuiyan.
Police and local sources said there is a long-standing feud between Kamrul and Azibar. Living in the Doyarpar area of Magura town, both are involved in Jubo League district-level politics.
Kamrul’s uncle Momin Bhuiyan, 65, who was injured by the gunshots and bomb splinters, died at Magura General Hospital early on Friday morning.
A supporter of Kamrul, Miraz Sheikh, 27, was also hacked during the attack.
The baby’s uncle, Rezwan Kabir Bhuiyan, said another Jubo league leader Sen Sumon was behind the attack.
A total of 16 people, including district BCL vice president Sen Suman, were accused in the case filed by Momin’s son Rubel Bhuiyan, he added.
Superintendent of Magura police AKM Ehsan Ullah said two teams of police were working to arrest the remainder of the accused.
Police officers have already traced some of them and hopefully will arrest them soon, he added.