Yesterday may have been the happiest day in Nazma Begum's life as she was finally able to hold her baby daughter Suraiya in her arms – 12 days after she was born.
Nazma was taken to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH), where Suraiya has been undergoing treatment, yesterday morning and was allowed to take her baby in her arms. She also nursed her child for a short while.
Nazma herself is undergoing treatment at the hospital.
It was a happy day for her husband and Suraiya's father Bachchu Bhuiyan as well.
“Today is a good day. My wife was able to hold our baby for the first time. I saw tears in her eyes but she kept smiling. I know it was the best moment of her life,” Bachchu told the Dhaka Tribune.
He said the family had received another good news – their elder child and son was recovering from the trauma he had suffered after watching his mother getting shot last month. “My brother told me our son had started to behave as usual this morning.”
Although Nazma only held her daughter for the first time yesterday, she met her two days ago. Since Suraiya was still in critical condition, doctors did not allow Nazma to hold her then.
Dr Kaniz Hasina, associate professor at the DMCH's paediatric department who has been supervising Suraiya's treatment, said the child's condition is improving and all her reports are showing progress.
“She is recovering from jaundice and the chances of a blood infection is decreasing. We are hoping she will make a fast recovery.”
However, Kaniz said the medical board for Suraiya's treatment was considering another surgery in her bullet-hit right eye.
“In a meeting today [yesterday], the board has decided to invite three specialist doctors from the National Eye Institute, who examined Suraiya and said her right eye had been injured badly and required another surgery.
“However, the baby is still not strong enough for the surgery. The specialists suggested continuing the ongoing treatment,” Kaniz told the Dhaka Tribune.
She said at the rate that Suraiya's condition is improving, it is likely that the doctors will be able to perform the surgery in two weeks' time.
Suraiya was hit by bullets while she was still in her mother's womb when eight months pregnant Nazma was shot in the abdomen during a clash between two factions of Jubo League in Magura on July 23.
One of the bullets went through the unborn baby's right shoulder and another damaged her right eye. She was born after a three-hour caesarean section at Magura General Hospital.
As of yesterday, law enforcers have arrested at least six people in connection with the incident, including the main accused Suman Sen.
The clash was the result of the tendency of recruiting criminals in local political groups, said Magura Superintendent of Police AKM Eksan Ullah.
He also said another main accused, Ajibor, might have fled to India, as police lost his trace in Benapol.
“We have found trace of another prime accused named Ali and are taking preparations to arrest him,” the police official said.
