8-yr-old rape victim still on life support
The eight-year-old rape victim from Magura, who is undergoing treatment at the Combined Military Hospital (CMH) in Dhaka, moved her eyelids for the first time yesterday morning.
However, doctors said her overall condition has improved only slightly, Chief Adviser's Deputy Press Secretary Mohammad Abul Kalam Azad Mazumdar said at a press briefing at the Foreign Service Academy in the capital last afternoon.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel. The CMH formed a high-level medical board for her treatment as she remained on life support at the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU), the Inter-Services Public Relations Directorate (ISPR) said in a statement.
The board includes the CMH commandant, the chief surgeon general, and heads of the paediatric, obstetrics and gynaecology, plastic surgery, and paediatric surgery departments, along with senior specialists in anesthesiology and paediatric neurology.
Following the board's recommendations, the child underwent several medical examinations, including CT scans of the brain, chest, and abdomen, an abdomen ultrasound, a chest X-ray, and various blood tests.
The test results revealed that the child was suffering from Pneumothorax (RT), Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS), and Diffuse Cerebral Edema. Immediate medical interventions were initiated accordingly, according to the ISPR.
Azad said that the interim government is closely monitoring her condition. Lt Gen (retd) Abdul Hafiz, the chief adviser's special assistant for defence and national unity, has been in regular contact with doctors.
Lt Gen Hafiz spoke with them again yesterday and was informed that while her condition slightly improved, respiratory complications disrupted oxygen supply to her brain, said Azad.
Doctors said the air in her chest was cleared, but the fluid accumulated in her brain was yet to be removed. They remain hopeful about potential improvement in the coming days.
Police arrested four individuals—her sister's husband, his parents, and brother—in connection with the incident, following a rape case filed by the child's mother.
A Magura court granted a seven-day remand for her sister's father-in-law and five-day remands for the three other accused. Due to security concerns, the remand hearing was conducted late last night. Magura Chief Judicial Magistrate Abdul Matin passed the order.
Md Alauddin, inspector (investigation) of Magura Sadar Police Station and the investigating officer in the case, had initially sought a seven-day remand for all four accused.
As no defence lawyer was present during the hearing, the accused were given a chance to defend themselves. They claimed innocence and requested that the remand not be granted.
The investigation officer said interrogation of the accused was crucial since he was unable to record the girl's statement as she remained unconscious.
The third-grader was visiting her elder sister's house in Magura town as her school was closed for Ramadan when she was raped there between March 5 night and March 6 morning.
The child was taken to Magura 250-Bed Hospital in an unconscious state by her sister's mother-in-law around 11:30am on March 6.
She was transferred to Faridpur Medical College Hospital for better treatment that afternoon. Later that night, she was shifted to Dhaka Medical College Hospital.
By March 7 night, she was placed on life support. As her condition remained critical, she was transferred from Dhaka Medical College Hospital's PICU to CMH the next day.
The child's mother filed a case with Magura Sadar Police Station under the Women and Children Repression Prevention Act.
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