Four months after the devastating fire at Milestone School in Uttara, 11-year-old student Sayyiba Mehjabin has been discharged from the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery and has finally returned home.
She was released from the hospital at around 12pm on Wednesday, according to institute officials.
At a press briefing, the institute’s director, Prof Dr Md Nasir Uddin, said Sayyiba had suffered burns on 22 per cent of her body and remained in critical condition throughout much of her 128-day stay.
“Her condition was extremely delicate in the beginning, requiring involvement from multiple departments,” he said. “We used donor skin grafts, performed 72 dressings, and carried out six grafting surgeries. She also needed ICU support several times.”
Dr Nasir Uddin said that 35 severely injured students from the same incident have already returned home after treatment. Another student, Abidur Rahman, who also sustained 22 per cent burns, is still hospitalised but is expected to be discharged soon.
Prof Dr Robiul Karim Khan Papon of the burn institute noted that despite their physical recovery, the children face long-term psychological challenges. “Their medical journey is not over. They will carry emotional trauma for life, and we will continue supporting their follow-up treatment,” he said.
Sayyiba’s mother, Sharmin Yasmin, expressed deep gratitude to the medical team. “We went through a terrible trauma. The doctors tried everything for her. They say she may be able to return to school in January,” she said.
Sharmin recalled a heartfelt moment when her daughter asked to attend her class party earlier this week. “She kept saying, ‘Mom, I want to go. Please ask the doctor to let me.’”
Sayyiba’s father, Md Zohurul Islam, said the family lives in Nolbhog, Turag, and that Sayyiba is a fourth-grade student at Milestone School.
