Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has directed health authorities to ensure best possible treatment for Feni madrasa student Nusrat Jahan Rafi, who is undergoing treatment at burn unit of Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) in critical condition.
Nusrat is struggling for life as the principal of her madrasa allegedly manifested his vengeance setting her on fire for refusing to withdraw sexual harassment charges against him.
“The Prime Minister called me up and asked us to take steps to send her to Singapore for her (Nusrat’s) better treatment,” Sheikh Hasina National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery’s coordinator at Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) Samanta Lal Sen told reporters on Monday afternoon, report BSS and bdnews24.com..
He said the premier issued directives to contact a Singapore hospital and “send her there, if they (Singapore hospital) agree to treat her”.
But doctors said Nusrat’s condition made it difficult for her treatment abroad as 80 per cent of her body including the respiratory system were burnt exposing her to breathing problems.
“She has been put on life support,” said Samanta Lal while another doctor at the facility said her condition deteriorated overnight.
Health Minister Zahid Maleque, meanwhile, visited the burn unit of DMCH to see Nusrat and later talked to newsmen outside when he described her condition to be “very critical”.
“Yet, if her family wants and the Singapore Hospital authorities agree, we will send her there,” Maleque said.
Earlier on Monday, Sheikh Hasina sent her Special Assistant Biplob Barua to the burn institute to visit the girl.
Nusrat had accused Feni’s Sonagazi Islamia Senior Fazil Madrasa principal Sirajuddoula of harassing her sexually on March 27.
Relatives alleged that Siraj-ud-Daula tried to burn her to death with the help of his followers after she refused to withdraw the sexual abuse case against him.
A group of masked youths, reported to be principal’s stooge, took Nusrat to the rooftop and set her on fire in their bid to kill her.
Feni police said the principal was already behind the bar in another case while they launched a drive to arrest the culprits.