Formulate rule over unnecessary C-section: HC

STAFF REPORER, Dhaka   

The High Court (HC) yesterday directed the government to form a committee in a month to formulate a guideline to prevent medically unnecessary Cesarean or C-section at all private and public hospitals and clinics across the country. In response to a writ petition, the HC bench comprising Justice Moyeenul Islam Chowdhury and Justice Md Ashraful Kamal also directed the government to formulate the guidelines by next six months. It directed health secretary and director general of health services to submit compliance report before it on December 5. Bangladesh Legal Aid and Services Trust (BLAST) filed the writ petition with the HC seeking its directive over the issue. After hearing on the petition, the HC bench also issued a rule asking the government to explain why its failure to prevent medically unnecessary Cesarean sections at private and public hospitals and clinics should not be declared illegal. The health secretary, director general of health services and Bangladesh Medical and Dental Council president have been made respondent to reply to the rule within four weeks. During the hearing on the petition, counsel for the petitioner Barrister Rashna Imam, referring to World Health Organisation and UNICEF reports in 2018, told the court that about 77 per cent of the caesareans performed in Bangladesh were unnecessary. Besides, C-sections increased by 51 per cent between 2016 and 2018. Rashna Imam also said that about 95 per cent income at private clinics came from caesarean deliveries which were being done without any proper consultation. She said that no steps had yet been taken by the government to monitor such practices by the doctors, private clinics and hospitals. As per the HC order, the health ministry and the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) and Bangladesh Medical and Dental Council (BMDC) will form a committee to formulate a guideline to stop unnecessary cesarean operation, Petitioner's lawyer Barrister Rashna Imam said. According to new figures released by Save the Children, Bangladesh is facing a massive boom in the number of medically unnecessary Caesarean section, commonly known as C-sections — between 2016 and 2018 the number of operations increased by 51 percent. The country saw an estimated 860,000 of these unnecessary operations last year, while up to 300,000 women who need a C-section are unable to afford or access it.

Probe report in militant den raid case Aug 20

BSS, Dhaka

A Dhaka court yesterday set August 20 to submit probe report in a case lodged under anti-terror act over law enforcing agency’s raid at a militant den in capital’s Ashkona area in 2016. Dhaka metropolitan magistrate Aminul Huq passed the order as investigation agency Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime (CTTC) unit of police failed to submit the report yesterday. CTTC conducted the raid “Operation Ripple 24” at a militant hideout in Ashkona, in capital’s Uttarkhan area on December 24, 2016. Two militants were killed and another two female militants surrendered during the incident. Dakkhinkhan Police Station sub-inspector Shahinul Islam filed the case against nine persons the next day. The accused are Zebennuhar Shila, Trisha Moni, Shakira, Samina, Afifa Kaderi, Mainul Islam, Rashedur Rahman, Selim and Firoz.