Death of DU Student: Seven doctors, one official granted bail

A Dhaka court yesterday granted bail to eight people, including seven doctors, on their surrender before it in a case alleging that “wrong treatment” at Central Hospital led to the death of a Dhaka University student.

Metropolitan Magistrate Khurshid Alam passed the order after the accused sought bail.

The DU authorities filed the case with Dhanmondi Police Station hours after Afia Jahan Chaity, 20, a first year student of zoology department, died at the hospital on May 18.

The accused are Central Hospital Director Dr MA Kashem, Consultant Lt Col (retd) Dr ASM Matlabur Rahman, Prof ABM Abdullah, Dr Murtaza, Dr Jahanara Begum, Dr Maksud Pervin, Dr Masuda Pervin, Dr Tapan Kumer Bairagi and Rashed Yusuf.

Kashem was granted bail on May 19 after he was produced before another Dhaka court.

The student from Chapainawabganj was admitted to the hospital on Green Road on May 17 after doctors there diagnosed her with "acute myeloblastic leukaemia", a type of blood cancer, reads her medical files.

Just before she died around 5:30pm, doctors confirmed that she actually had dengue fever, claimed students.

The death triggered a protest and demands for punishing the doctors. Around 200-300 students vandalised several rooms and other things on the hospital's first floor.