Shot before birth: Baby sent to NICU

The newborn who was shot inside her mother’s womb was sent to neonatal intensive-care unit (NICU) of Dhaka Medical College Hospital this morning.

“We have shifted the baby to NICU around 9:00am as precaution for her underweight status,” said Dr Khawja Abdul Gofur, DMCH assistant director (admin).

Later in the day, her mother, Nazma Khatun was brought to the DMCH around 7:45pm.

“Doctors said the baby needs breast-feeding and her mother needs special care too. That is why Nazma was brought to Dhaka,” said Bachchu Bhuiyan, father of the victim.

The father also told The Daily Star, “We have named the baby Suraiya.”

Earlier, the DMCH authorities formed an eight-member board for proper treatment of the baby.

The medical board comprises specialised doctors of the hospital headed by Dr Asraf Ul Huq, head of the paediatric surgery department, said Gofur. The board began treating the baby on July 28.

The baby received bullet injuries when her eight-month pregnant mother Nazma was shot in the abdomen during an attack during clash of local Jubo League activists in Magura on July 23.

Both the baby and the mother survived the two-hour caesarean operation at Magura General Hospital.