Chesi Tripura, a student of Rajshahi University’s Department of Microbiology, has died after suffering severe injuries in a road accident while returning to campus earlier this week.
She died at 11:07 pm on Thursday (22 October), following the withdrawal of mechanical ventilation after doctors determined that her brain had ceased functioning.
Rajshahi University Proctor Professor Mahbubur Rahman confirmed her death.
Chesi was enrolled in the university’s Department of Microbiology for the 2021–22 academic session. She had been receiving intensive medical treatment since sustaining serious head injuries in a collision between a truck and an autorickshaw on 19 October.
According to university officials, doctors had earlier declared her clinically dead after assessing her neurological condition and finding that her brain was no longer functioning. However, she remained on life support at the request of her parents.
The university’s Student Adviser, Professor Dr M H M Khurshid Alam, said on Thursday evening that the medical team had decided to withdraw mechanical ventilation later that night.
He explained that the authorities were consulting Chesi’s family and making the necessary preparations before implementing the doctors’ decision.
The accident occurred on the evening of 19 October when Chesi was travelling from Baghmara in Rajshahi towards the university campus.
During the journey, a truck collided with the autorickshaw carrying her, leaving her critically injured. She sustained severe head trauma and internal bleeding, both of which posed serious threats to her life.
Following the collision, she was rescued and taken to Rajshahi Medical College Hospital, where she was admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU).
Doctors began treating her injuries and monitoring her condition closely. However, her health continued to deteriorate, raising concerns about the severity of the damage caused by the accident.
As her condition worsened, the Rajshahi University administration arranged for her transfer to Dhaka by air ambulance to ensure access to more advanced medical treatment.
The transfer was undertaken in an effort to provide her with specialised care after the initial treatment in Rajshahi proved insufficient to stabilise her condition.
Despite continued treatment in Dhaka, Chesi’s neurological condition deteriorated further. Doctors subsequently determined that her brain had ceased functioning and declared her clinically dead, according to the university authorities.
Her parents nevertheless requested that she remain on life support, and mechanical ventilation was maintained while discussions continued with the medical team.
On Thursday night, doctors decided to withdraw the ventilatory support after consultations with the family. Her death was confirmed at 11:07 pm.
Chesi’s death came three days after the road accident that left her critically injured. During that period, she received treatment at Rajshahi Medical College Hospital before being transferred to Dhaka for further medical intervention.
Severe head injuries resulting from road collisions can cause extensive damage to the brain, particularly when accompanied by internal bleeding. Such injuries may lead to life-threatening complications even when patients receive emergency treatment and intensive medical care.
In Chesi’s case, the seriousness of her injuries required treatment in intensive care and subsequently prompted the university authorities to arrange an air ambulance transfer.
The circumstances surrounding her final days also reflect the difficult medical decisions that can arise when a patient’s neurological functions cease despite continued treatment.
From the initial emergency response in Rajshahi to her transfer to Dhaka, efforts were made to secure medical care for the injured student. However, her condition did not improve.
Her death marks the loss of a student from Rajshahi University’s 2021–22 academic session, bringing a tragic end to a journey that began with her return to campus from Baghmara.
