Injured traffic inspector Delwar suffers heart attack over fear of ‘leg amputation’

Traffic Inspector Delwar Hossain, who was been injured by a bus driving on the wrong side of the road, has suffered a heart attack after he was told that his leg could be ‘amputated’.

However, doctors said Delwar, who is now receiving treatment at the Square Hospital Coronary Care Unit, is doing better.

They said Delwar has multiple fractures on his left leg from the knee down.

He is likely to lose three toes if not the entire leg, they added.

A Public Administration Ministry bus moving on the wrong side of the road in Neelkhet had run over Delwar's left foot when he tried to stop it at Palashi intersection on Apr 16.

His colleagues initially took him to Dhaka Medical College Hospital but he was later transferred to Square Hospital.

“We were allowed to meet him once a day for a while,” said Delwar’s wife Shamima Syed. “He can now open his eyes and has asked about our daughters without speaking. He is better since yesterday after being critically ill for last few days.”

Shamima described the accident, saying that Delwar went to stop the bus but it tried to run over him. Delwar jumped aside in a bid to save himself but his left foot was caught underneath the wheels, causing multiple fractures.

“Police immediately took him to Dhaka Medical College Hospital, and following an operation there, he was transferred to Apollo Hospital, where the doctors said his leg has to be amputated,” Shamima said.

“He became very upset hearing the possibility of amputation. Even we could not accept it. We took him to Bangladesh Spine and Orthopaedic Hospital. However, his anxiety regarding the possibility of amputation resulted in having a heart attack,” said Shamima.

Delwar suddenly felt chest pains on Apr 19 and was shifted to the CCU at Square Hospital where the doctors said he has suffered from a heart attack and also got fluid in his lungs.

Shamima said Dhaka Metropolitan Police is bearing the full cost of Delwar’s job.

She also said they have also given assurances about Delwar’s job.

Delwar Hossain has four daughters. His eldest one is 17-years-old, while the youngest one is only a month old. He lives in the Basundhara Residential Area.

“He had a massive heart attack when taken to a local hospital for an operation. We have managed the heart attack and he is no longer in pain now. His blood pressure is normal and the fluid in lungs has been taken out. He does not have any breathing problems either,” said Dr Mahbub Mansoor of Interventional Cardiology Department in Square Hospital who is treating Delwar.

“Two hospitals told him that he must to amputate his left leg from the knee but here our orthopaedic consultant said he may only lose three toes,” said Dr Mansoor.

Dr Mansoor also said that a medical board has been formed for Delwar’s treatment.

ASI Md Abul Hossain filed a case with Shahbag police Station on the day of accident.

Sub-Inspector Md Tariqul Islam of Shahbag Police Station said the driver of the bus that belonged to the Public Administration Ministry has been arrested.