Father takes two sons to hospital, returns empty-handed

Mohammad Kabir took his two sons to the Chattogram Maa-O-Shishu General Hospital in the port city hoping to bring them home healthy. Instead, he lost both within just three days.
His 10-year-old son Noor Mohammad Arafat died on Friday, while his 10-month-old son Mohammad Abu Bakkar died on Sunday, with both having contracted dengue and measles at the same time.  After losing his elder son, Kabir made desperate efforts to save his younger child. 
Doctors also said they had done everything possible, but Abu Bakkar could not be saved.
Amena is now too grief-stricken to speak, while Kabir is struggling to come to terms with the loss. Prof Didarul Alam, head of the hospital’s paediatric intensive care unit, said Abu Bakkar died shortly after 1am on Sunday, while his elder brother died on Friday morning.
“Both children were infected with dengue and measles at the same time. They later developed pneumonia, and the infection spread to the brain. We tried everything possible and also formed a medical board,” he added.
According to family members, Arafat developed fever, vomiting and cough around two weeks ago. As his condition deteriorated, he was first taken to Southern Hospital and later treated at another private hospital.
With his condition worsening further, he was admitted to Chattogram Maa-O-Shishu General Hospital, where he died while undergoing treatment in the intensive care unit. Following Arafat's death, his younger brother's condition also became critical. He was admitted to the ICU and eventually put on life support.
However, the infant died despite the doctors' efforts.
The tragedy has also left Kabir, an employee of a private company, in severe financial distress. He exhausted his savings to pay for his sons' treatment and borrowed money from relatives and acquaintances.
“After losing my elder son, I tried everything to save the younger one. I have nothing left,” Kabir told Daily Sun over the phone on Monday. The deaths of the two brothers have renewed concerns among residents over the spread of dengue and measles in Chattogram.
Chattogram district Civil Surgeon Dr Mohammad Sajedur Rahman urged parents not to ignore symptoms such as fever, vomiting, cough, breathing difficulties or unusual lethargy in children and to seek medical advice without delay.