A Chittagong court yesterday granted bail to four doctors who were sued for their alleged negligence during treatment of three-year-old Rafida Khan Raifa, who died at a private hospital in the city on June 29. The court, however also expressed shock at the death.

The court of Chittagong Metropolitan Magistrate Abu Salem Md Noman granted the bail till the completion of investigation, after the doctors surrendered before the court on completion of their four weeks of bail, granted by a bench of High Court (HC).

The accused doctors are managing director of Max Hospital Dr Liakot Ali, child specialist Bidhan Roy Chowdhury and medical officers of the hospital Dr Debasis Sengupta and Dr Shuvro Deb.

Assistant Commissioner (AC) (Prosecution) Kazi Shahbuddin Ahmed of Chittagong Metropolitan Police (CMP) said the four doctors surrendered before the court on completion of their bail and sought bail again in the case.

“After hearing, the court granted bail to the accused on a bond of Tk 10,000 each until police complete their probe in the case," said the AC.

Rafida Khan Raifa, daughter of Rubel Khan, a senior reporter of Bangla Daily Samakal in Chittagong, died of medical negligence on June 29 at Max Hospital after she was admitted there with pain in her throat.

Following the death, Rubel Khan filed a case accusing the four doctors under section 304 (Kha), 201, 109 and 34 of Penal Code with Chawakbazar Police Station on July 18.

Journalist leaders of the city have been demanding punishment for the doctors, whose negligence was proved in an investigation by a three-member committee led by Chittagong Civil Surgeon.

A mobile court of Rab-7 conducted a drive at different hospitals in the city including Max Hospital on July 8 and fined them for irregularities. Protesting the mobile court and fine, owners of private clinics, hospitals and diagnostic centres enforced a 20-hour strike in Chittagong causing sufferings to the patients.

Apart from that, a probe committee formed by Bangladesh Medical and Dental Council (BMDC) visited Max Hospital to investigate the incident on July 24, but the accused remained absent despite being notified in advance.

On August 14, a bench of HC issued a rule asking the authorities concerned to explain in four weeks why they should not be directed to give appropriate compensation to the family of Raifa.

In the rule, the court also asked the respondents to show causes why legal actions should not be taken against the doctors whose negligence led to the death of Raifa.

The health secretary, additional health secretary (hospital), president of Bangladesh Medical and Dental Council, Max Hospital's doctor Bidhan Roy Chowdhury, Debashish Sengupta and Shuvro Deb have been made respondents to the rule.