HC orders probe into deaths after rabid dog bites in Gaibandha

The High Court today directed the Gaibandha civil surgeon to investigate whether negligence in medical treatment contributed to the deaths of people following rabid dog bites in the district’s Sundarganj upazila.

The civil surgeon was also asked to submit the probe report to the court after it reopens following its upcoming vacation.

Both the Appellate and High Court Divisions of the Supreme Court will go into annual vacation on May 22 and will reopen on June 7.

Today, the High Court bench of Justice Md Iqbal Kabir and Justice SM Saiful Islam passed the order following a writ petition filed as a public interest litigation by Supreme Court lawyer Md Safinur Islam seeking necessary directives for compensation to the victims’ families.

Petitioner’s lawyer Shameem Haider Patwary told reporters that at least five people died and several were injured earlier this month after being bitten by a rabid dog in Sundarganj upazila of Gaibandha, triggering panic over rabies in the area amid a reported shortage of vaccines at local health facilities.

The lawyer also said that after being bitten by dogs, the injured victims could not obtain vaccines at government hospitals and had to receive vaccinations from private hospitals instead. Despite this, five people died.