Tragedy Strikes: Child Dies During Circumcision In Chattogram

A grieving family in Chattogram city faced an unimaginable loss on Saturday when seven-year-old Mohammad Mostafa died due to severe complications during a circumcision procedure. The young boy had been admitted to the local private facility, Safe Health Care, at 10:30 am alongside his parents. According to family accounts, Mostafa was cheerful at the time of admission and even posed for photographs on the hospital bed—a memory now haunting his loved ones.

The surgical procedure commenced at 3:30 pm, but complications arose almost immediately following the operation. Mostafa was swiftly transferred to Chattogram Medical College Hospital (CMCH) and admitted to the Intensive Care Unit. His father, Abu Musa, recounted the harrowing moment: “My son’s body was completely cold; his legs were not moving, and there was no sign of life.” CMCH doctors officially declared Mostafa dead at 10:10 pm, citing cardiac arrest as the cause of death.

The family has expressed concerns over potential medical negligence or errors in anaesthesia. During Mostafa’s hospital stay, he was under the supervision of Dr Mohammad Junaid Chowdhury, Assistant Professor in the Department of Paediatric Surgery at CMCH. CMCH Principal Professor Mohammad Jasim Uddin emphasised that circumcision is usually performed under spinal anaesthesia, which rarely causes harmful side effects. He added, however, that a formal investigation is necessary to determine the exact cause of death.

Mostafa had been suffering from a congenital urinary condition known as glandular hypospadias, necessitating a minor additional surgical procedure alongside the circumcision. Due to the complexity, general anaesthesia had been recommended. Mostafa was the elder of two children in his family, who reside in Purbo Gomdandi, Boalkhali. His father works for a local satellite cable company.

The table below outlines Mostafa’s hospital timeline on the day of the procedure:

The family is now preparing to file a formal complaint with the authorities. The incident has sparked widespread discussion on social media, raising concerns about paediatric surgical safety, anaesthesia protocols, and the urgent need for stricter medical oversight. Health experts have stressed the importance of thorough pre-operative assessment and post-operative monitoring to prevent such tragedies in the future.