A six-month-old infant, identified as Arohi, passed away on Tuesday morning at the Begumganj Upazila Health Complex in Noakhali, sparking allegations of medical negligence and improper injections from grieving relatives. The incident, which occurred at approximately 11:30 AM on 24 February, led to a tense standoff at the facility, requiring police intervention to restore order.
Conflicting Narratives on Medical Care
Arohi, the daughter of Zahir Uddin from Nazirpur in the Chaumuhani Municipality, was brought to the hospital by her mother, Salma Akhter, suffering from severe pneumonia. According to the family, the infant’s condition deteriorated rapidly due to the “callousness” of the nursing staff in the emergency department. They claim that an injection administered at the hospital was the immediate cause of her sudden demise.
However, hospital authorities and local law enforcement have provided a starkly different account of the events leading up to the tragedy. Abdur Razzaq, the In-charge of the Chaumuhani Police Outpost, stated that the child arrived at the hospital in a critical state after receiving several days of unsupervised treatment at home.
“The child had been ill for three to four days before being brought here. During that time, she was administered multiple injections at home. By the time she reached the hospital, she already had a cannula inserted, and her body was no longer responding to treatment,” the officer explained.
Clinical Assessment by the Hospital
The Residential Medical Officer (RMO), Dr Saleh Ahmed Sohel, clarified that a consultant, Dr Rafiqul Islam, had previously examined the infant for a fever and recommended immediate hospitalisation. The family allegedly declined admission at that time, opting to treat the child privately.
| Feature | Details |
| Patient Name | Arohi (Aged 6 Months) |
| Primary Diagnosis | Severe Pneumonia |
| Time of Death | 11:30 AM, 24 February 2026 |
| Hospital Location | Begumganj Upazila Health Complex, Noakhali |
| Family Allegation | Nursing negligence and fatal injection |
| Medical Finding | Critical condition due to delayed professional care |
According to Dr Sohel, the child was brought back to the hospital on Tuesday with a blocked cannula. The infant reportedly passed away while a nurse was attempting to clear the blockage to facilitate treatment. While the family remains adamant that the hospital’s intervention was fatal, the medical staff maintains that the delay in seeking formal hospital care had already rendered the infant’s condition terminal.
Following the death, distraught relatives gathered at the health complex, leading to a period of significant unrest. Peace was eventually brokered after police officers arrived to investigate the verbal complaints.