The settlement came after relatives vandalised the private hospital.
The vandalised front desk of Abbas Specialized Hospital in Savar lies deserted following an uproar over the death of an 11-year-old boy after surgery. Photo: TBS
“>
The vandalised front desk of Abbas Specialized Hospital in Savar lies deserted following an uproar over the death of an 11-year-old boy after surgery. Photo: TBS
The family of an 11-year-old boy who died during surgery at a private hospital in Savar reportedly reached a Tk10 lakh settlement with the hospital authorities last night (21 October), following protests over his death.
Sources told The Business Standard that the agreement was reached at Londonas Restaurant in Savar’s Muktir Mor, with its owner, Saiful Islam, mediating the settlement.
Saiful confirmed the settlement to TBS but declined to discuss the financial transaction, while the boy’s mother, Kona Akter, denied receiving any money.
The boy, Abraham, died during surgery at Abbas Specialised Hospital in the Ullail area of Savar yesterday. His family alleged that an unskilled doctor operated on him without a full pre-operative assessment and that other doctors and nurses on duty were also negligent.
The family further alleged that the hospital sent him to Enam Medical College Hospital to cover up his death. Doctors at Enam declared him dead upon arrival.
The deceased’s relatives vandalised Abbas Specialised Hospital around noon yesterday, demanding justice.
Local journalist Shahnaz Parveen and other sources said the family received Tk10 lakh following hours of negotiations. They said the agreement was documented on stamp paper and hospital representatives handed the money to Kona.
Shahnaz also alleged that mediators discussed a separate Tk2 lakh payment to Savar Model Police Station during the negotiations.
A police source, speaking on condition of anonymity, alleged that an influential ruling party leader mediated the settlement and instructed that the money be handed to the family.
Kona later told TBS at Savar Model Police Station that she did not want to file a case because she wanted to take her son’s body without an autopsy.
Mosharraf Hossain, inspector (investigation) at the police station, told TBS that police had urged the family to file a complaint, but they refused.
He said police conducted an inquest before releasing the body. The family subsequently submitted a written statement late at night saying they would not file a complaint and took Abraham’s body.
When asked about the reported discussion of payments to police, Mosharraf said he knew nothing about the matter.
TBS tried several times to contact Sub-Inspector Fazr Ali, who conducted the inquest, for comment on the settlement and the alleged payments to police, but he did not answer calls or respond to text messages.
About The Author
