Magura child rape: Survivor's condition ‘extremely critical’ after 2 more cardiac arrests today

The life of the eight-year-old rape survivor from Magura is in danger, with the child suffering two more cardiac arrests this morning (13 March). 

Doctors have confirmed that the child's brain is unresponsive, while blood pressure and oxygen levels remain dangerously low.

The Press Wing of the Chief Adviser's Office informed the media about the child's condition earlier today.  

A member of the medical board overseeing the treatment at Dhaka's Combined Military Hospital (CMH) said in the morning, "The child is in a very critical state — the worst stage of criticality. There have been two cardiac arrests since morning. After CPR, it took nearly 30 minutes for the heartbeat to return. This means the condition has worsened compared to yesterday. The brain remains unresponsive."  

The doctor further said that the child's Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score is 3, whereas a normal score is 15. A GCS score of 3 is considered a state of complete brain unresponsiveness.  

Additionally, an imbalance in the body's salt levels has been detected, prompting doctors to initiate dialysis to stabilise the condition. 

The child suffered four cardiac arrests yesterday (12 March), both in the morning and at night, and was also placed on dialysis at that time.  

The child remains on life support at the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) of CMH Dhaka.  

Bangladesh Army in a Facebook post near midnight yesterday sought prayers for her.

"The Bangladesh Army seeks prayers from the countrymen for the child's recovery," concludes the Facebook post.

The eight-year-old child was raped by her sister's father-in-law, who was allegedly helped by his son last Wednesday night (5 March).

On Thursday morning (6 March), the child was taken to Magura's 250-bed hospital in an unconscious state.

Later that day, she was transferred to Faridpur Medical College Hospital and then to Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) on Thursday night. 

By Friday night (7 March), she was placed on life support.

On Saturday evening (8 March), the critically ill child was moved from DMCH's PICU to CMH for advanced care. 

A medical board, led by CMH's chief surgeon and comprising eight specialists, including experts in surgery, gynaecology, plastic surgery, paediatric neurology, anaesthesia, paediatric cardiology, and thoracic surgery, has been formed for her treatment.

The child's mother filed a case accusing four individuals, including the victim's sister's father-in-law Hitu Sheikh, 42, — while the other three accused, including her sister's husband Sajib Sheikh, 18, mother-in-law Jaheda Khatun, 45, and brother-in-law Ratul Sheikh, 20.

The accused have been arrested and are currently on remand.

Meanwhile, DNA samples have been collected from three of the male accused for forensic testing. 

On Tuesday (11 March), they were brought from Magura to the Criminal Investigation Department's (CID) DNA profiling lab in Dhaka, where the victim's DNA samples were also submitted.

Confirming the development, Magura Additional Superintendent of Police Md Mirajul Islam told Prothom Alo, "The three accused have been sent back to Magura district jail."

In the wake of this case, reports of rape and attempted rape have surfaced nationwide, including attacks on women, teenagers, and children.