Physician succumbs to burn injuries

Dr Rajib Bhattacharya, 36, who sustained burn injuries seven days ago at his apartment in the capital died on Tuesday.   

The physician died at the Sheikh Hasina National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery in the morning, said Dr Samanta Lal Sen, chief coordinator of the institute.  

Rajib's wife Dr Anushua Bhattacharya, 32, who also received burn injuries in the same incident, is undergoing treatment.

"We cannot declare her to be out of danger yet," Dr Sen added.

Dr Rajib breathed his last at around 8:30am at the intensive care unit. He had 88 percent burn injuries, while the wife sustained 20 percent injuries, Dr Sen told The Business Standard.

Dr Rajib was a final-year student of neurosurgery at the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University while Anushua was a doctor at a private hospital. They used to live at an apartment in Hatirpool, Dhaka. The couple has a five-year-old daughter.

The couple was brought to the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery on last Wednesday.

"Rajib was pouring hand sanitiser from a container into a smaller bottle. The liquid could have spilled over and then fallen on a mosquito-repelling coil," said police.      

Dr Sen said hand sanitiser, which many people are now using to protect themselves from the coronavirus, must be kept away from fire because it is highly flammable.