A one-month-old infant named Rimli Chakma has reportedly died due to a lack of oxygen at Baghaichari Upazila Health Complex, a remote and hilly area in Rangamati's border region.
The child passed away on Friday morning while under treatment at the hospital.
According to her family and relatives, medical staff could not provide timely treatment because there was no oxygen cylinder available at the facility.
Doctors attempted to keep the baby’s heart functioning through alternative methods but were ultimately unsuccessful, they said.
“If there had been oxygen in the hospital, my daughter might still be alive,” said the baby’s father, Riton Chakma.
On the matter, on-duty doctor Debashish at the Baghaichari Upazila Health Complex declined to comment.
Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Shirin Akhter said: “If the family’s claim is true, it is truly unfortunate. Perhaps the child could have been saved if oxygen had been available.”
She added: “The hospital has only one ambulance, which is currently out of service. There are supposed to be 16 doctors here, but only four are posted, and today only one is present.”
Rangamati Civil Surgeon Dr Nguyen Khisa said: “The infant had been suffering from pneumonia, and although efforts were made to keep the heart beating, the child could not be saved.”
“It is not yet confirmed whether the death was due to the absence of oxygen. A probe committee will be formed to investigate the incident,” he added.
