Chesi Tripura, a student of the Department of Microbiology at Rajshahi University (RU), has died after sustaining critical injuries in a road accident 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 a student of the university’s 2021–22 academic session. She had been receiving intensive medical treatment since being seriously injured in a collision between a truck and an autorickshaw on 19 October.
According to university officials, doctors had earlier declared her clinically dead after finding that her brain was no longer functioning. However, she remained on life support at the request of her parents, who had hoped for a recovery despite her extremely critical condition.
On Thursday evening, the university’s Student Adviser, Professor Dr M H M Khurshid Alam, said the medical team had decided to withdraw mechanical ventilation later that night.
He explained that discussions were taking place with Chesi’s family to complete the necessary arrangements before the withdrawal of respiratory support.
The accident occurred on the evening of 19 October while Chesi was travelling back to the university campus from Baghmara in Rajshahi.
A truck collided with the autorickshaw in which she was travelling, leaving her with severe head injuries and internal bleeding.
She was rescued following the collision and taken to Rajshahi Medical College Hospital, where she was admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU).
Medical staff initially provided emergency treatment and closely monitored her condition. However, the seriousness of her injuries and subsequent deterioration prompted efforts to arrange more advanced medical care.
As her condition worsened, the Rajshahi University administration arranged for her transfer to Dhaka by air ambulance.
The decision to move her to the capital was made in an effort to secure specialised treatment that might improve her chances of survival.
Despite receiving further medical attention in Dhaka, her condition continued to deteriorate. Doctors subsequently determined that her brain had ceased functioning and declared her clinically dead, according to university officials.
At her parents’ request, mechanical ventilation was maintained while the family considered the situation and consulted the medical team.
The university authorities remained involved in coordinating arrangements with the family and healthcare professionals.
On Thursday night, following discussions with her relatives, preparations were made to withdraw ventilatory support. Her death was confirmed at 11:07 pm.
Chesi’s death came three days after the collision that left her critically injured. During that period, she underwent treatment at Rajshahi Medical College Hospital before being transferred to Dhaka in an attempt to obtain more advanced care.
The incident highlights the potentially devastating consequences of severe head injuries sustained in road accidents. Such injuries can cause extensive damage to the brain, particularly when accompanied by internal bleeding, and may remain life-threatening despite intensive medical intervention.
Her case also illustrates the difficult decisions families and medical professionals can face when a critically injured patient’s neurological condition deteriorates beyond recovery.
Chesi Tripura’s death marks the loss of a young university student whose journey back to campus ended in tragedy, despite the medical efforts and administrative arrangements made to secure her treatment.
