Infant declared dead at DMCH ‘moves’ during burial

A baby pronounced dead at Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) today after delivery showed signs of movement when she was being buried some hours later. Now, she is at a hospital in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU).

The newborn, named Mim, was “stillborn” to Minhaz Uddin and Sharmin Akhter, a family from Savar, at around 8:00am, the death certificate issued by DMCH shows.

She was brought to Azimpur graveyard and was being given her final bath before burial when she moved, Hafizul Islam, a caretaker at the graveyard, said. “It was then that we realised that the baby was alive.”

The newborn’s maternal uncle Shariful Islam told journalists that the baby was first rushed to a local clinic in Azimpur, and then to Dhaka Shishu (Children) Hospital at Sher-e-Bangla Nagar.

Doctors there say the child is in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and that her condition has improved a little.

Prof Md Abdul Aziz, director of the Shishu (Children) Hospital, at a press briefing at the hospital premises, said that the staff of the hospital will put in their utmost efforts to try and save the baby.

Contacted this afternoon, DMCH director Brig Gen AKM Nasir Uddin said he was unaware of the incident and that he would give a comment after further inquiry.

“We will investigate whether this child was actually delivered and declared dead at DMCH,” Brig Gen AKM Nasir Uddin told journalists.

Last reported, baby Mim was attending treatments at the ICU, while her mother was at the DMCH.