Finally, cops register case over Rafia’s death

After four weeks of dillydallying police have accepted a case over death of Raifa, the two-year-old who died due to negligence of doctors in Chittagong.

Abul Kalam Azad, officer-in-charge of Chawk Bazar Police Station, confirmed our local staff correspondent of the development this evening.

“We recorded the case filed by Raifa’s father this afternoon,” he said, referring to the complaint Rafia’s father filed last Wednesday. “Now police will investigate the case.”

Rafida Khan Raifa was given a dose of antibiotic at Max Hospital in Chittagong, which triggered convulsions in her body. The doctors later administered an injection, which led to her death.

Raifa's father, Md Rubel Khan, a senior reporter of Bangla daily Samakal, alleged outright negligence in his daughter’s case. Journalists demonstrated demanding justice.

In face of protests, privately-practicing doctors, clinics and hospitals shut down services in the port city, which further led to sufferings of patients in Chittagong.

Also during this time, a probe committee led by Chittagong Civil Surgeon Azizur Rahaman Siddique found negligence involved and recommended action against three doctors.

Chawkbazar police had earlier said they would “consult with high-ups” before recording Rubel Khan’s complaint as a case because of what they said “it involved serious matters”.

The High Court even had an observation in this regard. Back on July 10, it said strikes observed by clinics, hospitals and diagnostic centres to justify medical negligence were unethical.