Woman dies after C-section at Gazipur hospital, relatives vandalise facility

A woman died hours after undergoing a cesarean section at a private hospital in Gazipur’s Sreepur upazila early today, triggering anger among relatives and locals who later vandalised parts of the facility.

The incident occurred around 3:00am at Life Care Hospital in the Maona Chowrasta area.

The deceased was Rumana Akter, 25, daughter of Rashid Mia from the Potka area of Sreepur.

According to family members, Rumana was admitted to the hospital around 8:00pm yesterday. During the cesarean operation, doctors allegedly made a mistake that cut one of her internal organs, they said.

Her condition deteriorated shortly after the surgery and she died around 3:00am, the family said. However, the newborn is healthy.

Following her death, angry relatives and locals started vandalising parts of the hospital.

Police later arrived at the scene and brought the situation under control.

A local resident told media at least three previous allegations had been raised over patient deaths following cesarean operations at the same hospital. Although investigations were promised on each occasion, the hospital reportedly resumed operations afterwards, fuelling dissatisfaction among locals.

Gazipur Civil Surgeon Dr Mamunur Rashid told The Daily Star that they had received allegations regarding the death of a patient.

Based on the complaint, a team from Sreepur upazila administration went to the hospital to conduct a mobile court operation.

Upazila Health and Family Planning Officer Dr Shafiqul Islam said he was present at the scene.

Meanwhile, it has been alleged that after the incident the hospital’s doctors and authorities left the premises. Although the body remained at the hospital, no representatives of the hospital authority were found there. Attempts to contact them by phone were also unsuccessful.

Several attempts were made to contact Mohammad Naser, officer-in-charge of Sreepur Police Station, but he did not answer the calls.