Magura baby shot in mother’s womb is recovering in Dhaka hospital

The newborn, shot in its mother’s womb in Magura, is recovering fast but is still not out of danger, doctors at the Dhaka Medical College and Hospital say.

Family members, who were allowed to see the child on Monday, said it was in better physical condition than before.

Police earlier in the day arrested two more accused in the case over the firing that left one killed and both the baby and her mother wounded.

Until now, six accused have been arrested. The incident had left another with bullet injuries.

Najma Begum, who was 34 weeks into her pregnancy, was shot during the clash between two factions of Awami Juba League on July 23 at Magura town’s Doarparha.

The bullet had also injured the baby in her womb.

Doctors at a local hospital performed surgery on Najma to save the girl that night.

Two days later, the baby was transferred to the Dhaka Medical College and Hospital (DMCH) which formed a medical board for her treatment.

File Photo

Najma, recovering from the bullet injury, came to DMCH on Thursday.

DMCH paediatric surgery department Assistant Professor Dr Kaniz Hasina Shiuly on Monday told reporters, “The baby’s condition is better than before. But she is not fully out of danger.”

The child’s uncle Rezwan Bhuiyan told bdnews24.com his sister-in-law was at a different ward in the hospital, but she was breast-feeding the baby regularly.

“The family feels a lot better now that she (the baby) is making speedy recovery,” he said.

Information Minister Hasanul Haq Inu and Prime Minister’s Assistant Personal Secretary Saifuzzaman Shikhor earlier in the day visited the hospital to see Najma and her baby.

The minister enquired about their treatment and gave Tk 20,000 for the mother and her daughter.

Former Bangladesh Chhatra League leader Shikhor’s father late Md Asaduzzaman was a Magura MP.

Residents of Doarparha alleged that local Awami League leaders were backing the Juba League activists whose clash caused casualties on July 23.

The shooting that day occurred when supporters of Magura Juba League activist Kamrul Bhuiyan engaged former Juba League supporters Mohammad Ali and ‘Ajibor’ in a fight to gain control of the area.

Two of the main accused in the case were arrested on Sunday in Dhaka and Magura. Another two were nabbed on July 26.