‘A violation of human rights’

A probe committee of National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) termed the occurrence of a victim's family having to wait two years to get an autopsy report a violation of human rights. This issue is related to the case where both kidneys of a 55-year-old woman were removed allegedly during a surgery by doctors of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University Hospital (BSMMU).

Visiting Dhaka Medical College's forensic department yesterday, NHRC Director (complaints and Inquiry) AL-Mahmud Faizul Kabir said victim Rawshan Ara's body was sent there on November 3, 2018 for autopsy, and the autopsy report was sent to Shahbagh Police Station on November 7 this year.

"It's not normal…We talked to Dr Sohel Mahmud, head of the forensic department, who told us that there was no requisition from police. We are investigating why police did not take the autopsy report for such a long time, and why the forensic department did not act responsibly and send it itself."

If someone receives any government job, they are responsible for sending documents and reports. Initially, the forensic department blamed lack of manpower for the delay. Authorities will investigate everything, he said.

Rawshan's son Rafique Sikder told NHRC that he had visited the department and police station several times, but they gave him various excuses.

"We will go to Shahbagh Police Station next week to take their statements…Every citizen has the right to get their report on time. Since the victim's family did not, I think their human rights have been violated," said the NHRC director.

In response to questions, Dr Sohel pointed out that they had earlier said they did not find a single kidney in the body.

"If we can tell everything in front of the media, then what do we have to hide here?" he said.

"Besides, police made no requisition in this regard. They also came late. However, the report did not reflect any lies. We don't think it will disrupt the judiciary," he added.

Regarding the autopsy report, he said they found that both kidneys were surgically removed.

Rafique, a filmmaker, admitted his ailing mother to BSMMU for kidney treatment on July 1, 2018. Rawshan had an operation on her left kidney on September 5 that year, but her condition started worsening fast.

Following later diagnosis at two private hospitals, doctors found that both of Rawshan's kidneys were missing. She died on October 31, 2018.

Then began the family's struggle for justice.

It took two years to get the report. Law enforcers then suggested that Rafique file a case with the court. Shahbagh police, however, registered the case only after NHRC issued a notice on November 26 in this regard.

On November 27, Rafique filed a murder case against four BSMMU doctors on charges of removing her mother's right kidney in a "planned manner with ill intention".

NHRC Deputy Director M Rabiul Islam, another member of NHRC's two-member probe committee, told The Daily Star that they earlier visited BSMMU and collected evidence.

"We took it as a concern why BSMMU authorities didn't take any departmental action even after an investigation," he said.

Shahbagh Officer-in-Charge Mamun-or-Rashid told this newspaper yesterday that the accused got bail in the case on Wednesday.