Doctors at Dhaka Neurosciences Institute say 9-year-old Huzaifa’s head bullet ‘cannot be removed now’

Medical board finds surgery too risky but says child’s condition stable with chance of improvement

Doctors at the National Institute of Neurosciences in Dhaka have said they cannot yet remove the bullet lodged in the head of 9-year-old Huzaifa Afnan, who was shot near the Teknaf border.

Joint Director Badrul Alam told bdnews24.com on Wednesday night that Huzaifa’s condition has not deteriorated since admission.

“There is hope for improvement. The medical board has found that removing the bullet at this stage is not possible. She also suffered a stroke,” he said.

Huzaifa, the daughter of Jashim Uddin – a resident of Lombabil village in Whykong Union, was shot and injured on Sunday as she went out to buy breakfast with her grandfather.

She was first taken to Chattogram, where doctors performed surgery but could not extract the bullet.

Later, she was flown to Dhaka by air ambulance on Tuesday night and admitted to the Neurosciences Institute, where a medical board is overseeing her treatment.

Earlier, Chattogram Medical College Hospital ICU chief Harunur Rashid said part of her skull had been removed to ease brain pressure.

Meanwhile, Bangladesh’s foreign ministry summoned Myanmar’s ambassador in Dhaka to protest the incident, calling the cross-border shooting a violation of international law and neighbourly relations.

The ministry demanded Myanmar take full responsibility and ensure such incidents do not recur, stressing that whatever happens inside Myanmar must not harm Bangladeshi lives and livelihoods.

Ambassador U Kyaw Soe Moe said his government would take steps to prevent future incidents and expressed sympathy for Huzaifa and her family.