Questions are being raised about the security measures at Rajshahi Medical College Hospital (RMCH) after the body of a burned teenager, who had fled from the hospital’s burn unit, was found in a pond. The incident has prompted concerns about the hospital’s ability to ensure patient safety.
Police recovered the bandaged body of 15-year-old Naveed Islam from the pond of Haji Muhammad Mohsin Government High School in Rajshahi on Monday. Naveed had sustained burns in a gas cylinder fire on February 2 and was admitted to RMCH’s burn unit. However, he went missing on Monday morning, leading to the discovery of his body in the pond.
Naveed’s mother, Rita Begum, claimed it was suicide, but this has not been confirmed. Investigations revealed that Naveed was mentally unstable and had attempted suicide by setting himself on fire earlier, resulting in his hospitalization.
Relatives of other burn unit patients alleged mistreatment by Naveed’s mother during his hospital stay. The police are investigating the incident as a case of wrongful death, emphasizing the limited police presence in the hospital and placing responsibility for security on the hospital authorities.
CCTV footage from the hospital shows Naveed leaving alone, but there is no footage around the pond where the body was found. The ongoing investigation aims to determine the cause of death after further examination.
RMCH Director Brigadier General AFM Shamim Ahmed mentioned the challenges of closely monitoring all patients, with 700-800 leaving the hospital daily. The director expressed sadness over the incident and emphasized the hospital’s commitment to patient care. Additionally, it was revealed that Naveed had a history of attempted suicide, but this information was not shared with hospital staff, potentially impacting the course of action taken.
The incident highlights the need for a comprehensive review of security protocols at RMCH to ensure the safety of patients and prevent similar tragedies in the future.
