A newborn was rescued half an hour after she got stuck in the toilet pipe. The mother gave birth in the toilet of the maternity ward of Sher-e-Bangla Medical College Hospital (SBMCH) in Barishal.

The incident occurred around 4pm yesterday (May 7), director of the hospital, Dr HM Saiful Islam, confirmed.

The hospital director said, "Both the mother and the newborn are doing well. Instructions have been given to prioritise their treatment."

The newborn's father, Neamat Ullah, a resident of Nesarabad upazila in Pirojpur, admitted his wife Shipli Begum to Swarupkathi Upazila Health Complex after the baby stopped moving in the womb.

As per the doctors' suggestion, Shilpi was moved to Sher-e-Bangla Medical College Hospital yesterday morning.

At the hospital, doctors decided to conduct a caesarean surgery on her as her condition was critical and asked the husband to buy some medicines.

Shilpi Begum. Photo: Titu Das

"When I came back with medicines, there was a crowd in front of the toilet. People told me that my wife gave birth in the toilet and the baby got stuck inside the pipe. Someone asked me to pull the newborn out from the pipe. I inserted my hand inside the pipe and got nothing. But I heard my baby cry from inside the pipe. So, without waiting for anyone, I quickly went to the second floor, broke the pipe, and rescued my daughter. Thank God, I was able to save her," the father said.

Neamat Ullah, a fisherman, sought blessings of all for his daughter and wife, reports our Barishal correspondent.

Neamat Ullah with his daughter. Photo: Titu Das

The mother, Shilpi, said, "The nurses refused to allow me to go to the bathroom before the operation, but I was in pain. After seeing blood in the toilet, I realised that the baby had been born."

Shilpi then went out of the toilet and informed people working at the hospital.

Professor Khursheed Jahan, head of the hospital's gynaecology department, said, "The baby's mother had some problems. That's why there was an unusual delivery."

Photo: Titu Das

Mashiur Rahman, assistant registrar of the children's ward, said that the newborn weighed 1 kg and 200 grams. She does not have any physical issues now.

The couple, Neamat Ullah and Shilpi Begum, have a four-year-old daughter as well.