Conjoined twins fly to Hungary today

The conjoined twins Rokeya and Rabeya, who are fused at the skull, are flying to Hungary today to receive preparatory treatments before the final surgery for separation.

Doctors say the sisters may live normal lives as two separate individuals after the operation, which will take place in Bangladesh six or seven months later.

The twins were born joined at the head on July 16, 2016, to primary school teachers Taslima Khatun and Rafiqul Islam in Pabna.

They can talk and walk now and are under supervision at Sheikh Hasina Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery of Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH).

Prof Abul Kalam Azad, head of the burn institute, said, “The chance of survival in these cases is 20 percent because the operation is very risky.”

The twins have been receiving treatment for the last one year with government support; they are being sent to Hungary as part of the treatment to separate them, he said.

The twins along with their parents will stay in Hungary for 90 days where they will undergo primary surgeries required for the separation. Later, the final surgery will take place at the institute in Bangladesh six to seven months later, said Prof Azad.

Dr Samanta Lal Sen, national coordinator at the burn institute of DMCH, said they conducted two operations to separate nerves and tissues that maintain blood circulation in the brains of the twins. They are conjoined with skins, bones and some parts of their brains, he said.

Though there is a huge risk to separate them, they will carry out the operation in the burn institute as per the desire of their parents, he said.

The twins are being sent to Hungary to stretch the skin and tissue of their heads, which is necessary for the final operation; doing these in Dhaka is risky because of the high chances of infection, he said.

A joint team of neurosurgeons and plastic surgeons from Hungary, Germany and Bangladesh will carry out the final operation, he said.

Dr Samanta said a Bangladeshi doctor is accompanying the parents to Hungary and a two-member team of the burn institute will also join them shortly.

Taslima, mother of the twins, said, “We know it is a risky operation. But we took the decision because we want to see them live normal lives.”

“Though conjoined, they share different personality traits. For example, if Rokeya cries, Rabeya doesn't,” she said.

The father, Rafiqul Islam, said they were not informed of the condition before their birth even after conducting ultrasonography during pregnancy. All the radiological tests showed a single baby, he added.

They became nervous after their birth and went to different hospitals for treatment. Finally, at DMCH, doctors advised them to wait for five years for their separation.

Rafiqul said the prime minister has been bearing all the costs of their treatment since she was informed about them through local lawmaker Makbul Hossain.

Yesterday, Health Minister Mohammad Nasim handed over air tickets to the parents during a press briefing at the burn institute.

An Emirates flight carrying them was scheduled to depart Dhaka airport at 1:30am today, said Dr Samanta Lal.

The couple also have an eight-year-old daughter.