Annu, a seven-year-old disabled girl, has been staying alone at the children's ward at Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) for seven months, after she was left abandoned.
The ill-fated girl, who is commonly known as "Ochena meye" (unknown girl), was left abandoned in front of the children's ward in October of last year.
The on-duty doctors of the ward informed the Dhaka Tribune about the girl while a DT journalist was visiting another abandoned boy, Siam at the same ward.
They said the Ansar members of the hospital first noticed the girl and admitted her at the children's ward.
She might be left abandoned as she is disabled, they added.
On-duty doctor Nilufar said: "Everybody writes about Aduri and Siam, however nobody writes about the disabled girl.”
The 11-year-old girl Aduri was dumped in a garbage after torture in the capital’s Gulshan-Baridhara area in September of last year.
Abdul Mannan, an assistant sub-inspector of Cantonment police, found Aduri in a dustbin as he was patrolling the area and rescued her.
The disabled girl has been staying in the ward for the last seven months. Our director has talked to several human rights organisations and NGOs, requesting them to take the custody of the baby. However, nobody has taken her," she added.
Another on-duty doctor Tasnim said: "Our director somehow manages the costs of diapers, medicines and other essentials for the girl; and has special attendant of the ward Fhoolbanu taking care of her."
She further said: "Nobody brings any food or clothes for the poor girl. She cannot walk or speak, however she can smile. We feel pity for her and try taking good care of her.
However, we do not have enough facilities to keep the baby with us for a long time. Moreover, as she stays here, she needs to occupy a bed, which could be allotted to a critical patient. So, we really need someone to take the baby away from here, to a place which would be better for her," she added.
Regarding the physical condition of the helpless girl, on-duty nurse Hasi Rani Das said: "When she came here she could not move her hands, but after regular massage, now she can move those and can take foods without any help. She can also move her legs if someone gives her regular physiotherapy."
While talking to the Dhaka Tribune, Fhoolbanu said: "She cannot speak, sometimes she cries, sometimes she laughs; however, she can recognise me and calls me maa.”
“Although I love her, feel pity for her, but I am also a human being. It is difficult for me to take care of a disabled baby alone. I am bringing up her like my own daughter, but now she is growing up and I really feel tired," added the special attendant.
"Our director sir told me that she will be shifted to a better place soon," said Fhoolbanu.
Dhaka Tribune has tried several times to contact DMCH Director Dr Mostafizur Rahman for his comment over the issue; however, we were not able to get in contact with him.
