The first-ever kidney transplant at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) Super Specialized Hospital has been embroiled in allegations of irregularities and fraud.
The donor's family claims that the donor and the recipient were not close relatives, which goes against the country's laws regarding kidney donation.
According to the law in Bangladesh, kidney donation is only permitted when the donor is a first-blood relative (mother, father, brother, sister, uncle, aunty) or husband/wife (on emotional grounds).
To deceive the hospital authorities, the donor's family claimed that falsified documents were used under the promise of financial gain.
The hospital authorities have formed a four-member investigation committee to look into the complaint.
BSMMU Vice Chancellor (VC) Dr Md Sharfuddin Ahmed confirmed this information to Dhaka Tribune on Wednesday night.
Expressing his surprise at such fraud occurring at the beginning of a groundbreaking step in the history of Bangladesh, he said: "I'm surprised by this incident. There are certain legal procedures for a kidney transplant, and we have worked on those procedures. But I don't know how this happened.
“After learning about this incident, I personally formed a four-member investigation committee to conduct a thorough investigation. Legal action will be taken against anyone found responsible based on the investigation report."
How it happened?
On Monday, a kidney transplant procedure was conducted for the first time at BSMMU Super Specialized Hospital.
According to hospital authorities, Sujan Roy, 42, received a kidney donation from his younger brother, Sushen Roy, 31.
However, when the news spread, the original kidney donor's family came into the limelight with allegations of forged identity.
The kidney donor's twin brother, Amit Howlader, contacted the hospital authorities and disclosed that the real name of the kidney donor is Sumit Howladar, not Sushen Roy.
Sumit works at a private company in Banani and lives in the Farmgate area with his wife, Sima Joy Dhar, who is a nurse at a private hospital in Panthpath.
Sumit Hawladar was persuaded to undergo a kidney transplant using the false identity of the kidney recipient's younger brother.
Sumit agreed to donate his kidney under the name of Sushen, lured by financial transactions and the prospect of moving to Greece.
Sumit's wife, Seema Joy Dhar, said: "I would not have allowed my husband's kidney to be sold for money. But he left home, saying he was going to Barisal for training as part of going abroad."
On Monday, Sumit's wife learned about the kidney donation on television and decided to contact the hospital authorities along with Sumit's twin brother to report the fraudulent activities.
Hospital authorities in the dark
The hospital authorities claimed that they did not know anything about the falsified document.
BSMMU VC Dr Md Sharfuddin Ahmed said: "I know that all legal documents for kidney transplant were given by the patient's family and the kidney donor's family. I did not know about any fraudulent activities."
BSMMU Legal Officer Advocate Tania Akter said: "The kidney donor and recipient gave their National ID cards, where their names and parents' names were all correct. Then we sent the documents to the Magistrate. Once he verified and signed, we started our process."
No one from the family of kidney recipient Sujan Roy agreed to speak in this regard.
Kindey donation remains a concern
Every year, 40,000 patients suffer kidney failure, and 20,000 patients die due to sudden kidney failure.
According to the data of Kidney Foundation Hospital and Research Institute, about 20 million people in the country are suffering from kidney disease.
Of them, 40,000 patients suffer from kidney failure every year. Some 75% of these patients die due to lack of dialysis or kidney transplantation.
Apart from this, another 20,000 patients die every year due to sudden kidney failure.
Kidney transplants have been going on at BSMMU for more than 40 years.
However, the government has established the super specialized hospital to provide technology-based modern medical services at a low cost. A patient has to spend Tk3 lakh for a 14-day kidney transplant package at the facility.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated this hospital on September 14 last year. Monday's operation was the first-ever transplant at the hospital.