A 35-year-old C-section patient has died after a doctor allegedly stitched up her abdomen with surgical gauze left inside during an operation at Faridpur’s Samarita Hospital.
The deceased, Konika Mondal, wife of Ashanto Mondal, was a resident of Baghutia village under Baharpur union in Baliakandi upazila of Rajbari. She passed away at 2:15am on Wednesday while undergoing treatment at Ibn Sina Hospital in Kalyanpur, Dhaka, one month and 20 days after the initial surgery.
Her brother-in-law, Samir Mondal, said Konika was admitted to Samarita Hospital on 29 June for her delivery. That evening, physician Laxmi Rani Dutta performed the Caesarean section, and Konika gave birth to a baby girl. However, her abdomen began to swell abnormally from the very next day.
As her condition deteriorated, she was rushed to Ibn Sina Hospital in Dhaka on 3 July. Under the supervision of physician Abdul Jalil, medical examinations on 7 July revealed the presence of the surgical gauze, which was subsequently extracted through surgery that same day.
Despite the corrective procedure, Konika remained hospitalised under intensive care until her demise on Wednesday night.
Following media reports of the tragic incident on Thursday, Health Minister Sakhawat Hossain ordered immediate formation of a five-member investigation committee to probe the medical negligence.
On Friday morning, the health minister travelled by road to visit Konika’s home in Rajbari, where he expressed his deep condolences to the bereaved family. He handed over Tk50,000 from his personal fund to the grieving family and assured them of the government’s continued support.
The minister was accompanied during the visit by Rajbari Deputy Commissioner Afroza Parveen, Rajbari Civil Surgeon SM Masud, Faridpur Civil Surgeon Mahmudul Hasan, Upazila Nirbahi Officer Chowdhury Mustafizur Rahman, and Upazila Health and Family Planning Officer Faruk Hossain, along with other government officials, political leaders, and local residents.
