Magura child rape: 8-year-old still on life support, 4 accused remanded
Rumours had spread on social media late at night yesterday (9 March) claiming that the child's condition had improved and that she was taken off life support. However, both medical professionals and her family have dismissed these claims
The eight-year-old rape victim from Magura remains in critical condition and on life support at the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) of the Combined Military Hospital (CMH) in Dhaka.
There have been no signs of improvement, according to doctors and family members, since she was moved to the hospital on Saturday (8 March).
One of the doctors from the medical board overseeing her treatment confirmed the matter this morning (10 March), reports Prothom Alo.
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Rumours had spread on social media late at night yesterday (9 March) claiming that the child's condition had improved and that she was taken off life support. However, both medical professionals and her family have dismissed these claims.
"Her life support has never been removed, not even once. She remains critical. Her condition has not changed. She is fighting for survival," the doctor, requesting not to be named, told Prothom Alo.
The child's cousin, citing doctors, also commented similarly while talking to Prothom Alo.
Doctors are monitoring her condition closely, but as of this morning, there has been no improvement.
Meanwhile, a Magura court has placed the four accused on remand in connection with the case.
Due to security concerns, police could not produce the accused before the court during the daytime yesterday (9 March), leading to a late-night hearing.
The child was raped by her sister's father-in-law, who was allegedly helped by his son, at the latter's house last Wednesday night (5 March).
The child was first taken to Magura 250-bed Hospital around 11:30am Thursday (6 March) in an unconscious state by her sister's mother-in-law. Her mother later arrived at the hospital, and by the afternoon, she was transferred to Faridpur Medical College Hospital for better treatment.
That night, she was moved to Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH), where she was placed on life support on Friday night (7 March).
On Saturday evening, she was transferred from DMCH's PICU to CMH for further specialised treatment. A medical board, led by the chief surgeon of CMH, has been formed to oversee her treatment.
The board consists of eight specialist doctors, including experts in paediatric surgery, gynaecology and obstetrics, plastic surgery, paediatric neurology, anaesthesia, paediatric cardiology, urology, and thoracic surgery.
