Newborn, back from the dead, in critical condition at DMCH

The condition of the baby girl -- declared dead at Dhaka Medical College Hospital early yesterday but found alive before burial hours later -- is critical. She is under treatment at the Neonatal Intensive Care unit at the hospital.

"Her condition is very critical...We are trying our level best," Brig Gen AKM Nasir Uddin, director of the hospital, said.

A four-member probe body led by Dr Manisha Banerjee, head of the neonatology department, has been formed to investigate the incident. The probe body has been asked to submit its report within three days.

"We will take action upon receiving the findings," the director said.

The baby's father Yeasin Mollah said, last night he saw the baby moving her limbs.

He sought blessing from all for his baby.

Read more: Back from the dead

Yesterday, a doctor at the hospital declared the baby dead after Yeasin's wife Shahinur Akter gave birth prematurely to her around 4:45am, after six and a half months' pregnancy.

Hospital staffers later put the baby in an abandoned box of gloves and asked Yeasin to take her to Azimpur graveyard, Yeasin, a driver by profession, alleged.

He took the baby to Azimpur graveyard, but since he did not have Tk 1,500 for burial, he was advised to go to Rayerbazar graveyard where the burial cost is comparatively lower.

Yeasin took the baby to the graveyard, a grave was dug but a couple of minutes before the burial, the box in Yeasin's hand moved and she showed signs of being alive.

He took the baby back to the hospital.

DMCH director said the baby was put under observation for a couple of hours but was declared dead as there was no pulse after her premature birth.