Members of Bangladesh Coast Guard (BCG) saved the life of a six months old infant on November 8 when the child became seriously ill during a visit to Sundarban.
It was learnt that, a group of 50 tourists set off for a trip to the Sundarbans on a vessel named MV Utsab on November 7. Around 11:30pm that night, upon reaching the Kotka protected area in the Sundarbans, a 6-month-old infant, fell seriously ill. Kotka is approximately 86 kilometers away from Mongla or Khulna, which is nearly a 9-hour journey. Additionally, the speed of the tourist vessels was quite limited. There were no signs of nearby settlements and no doctor on ship. The only communication option was a single phone using Teletalk network.
In this situation, a retired military officer aboard the immediately informed the Coast Guard Headquarters. The Coast Guard Headquarters then took prompt action and instructed the Coast Guard Western Zone to proceed with necessary measures.
As soon as the situation was reported, the Coast Guard Western Zone sent a medical team to Kotka on a high-speed boat. The team, consisting 7 members and carrying emergency medical equipment, was led by Surgeon Lt Mohammad Raihanul Jannah. Despite thick fog at night, the rescue team managed to cover the 86-kilometer river route and reached the tourist ship MV Utsab in a remarkably short time.
Upon arrival, Surgeon Lt Mohammad Raihanul Jannah provided immediate first aid to the sick child, and after completing the medical evacuation, transferred the child quickly to the Mongla base by boat. Later, the child was sent to a specialized hospital in Khulna for further treatment, ensuring the child's proper medical care. The tourists aboard the ship and the ship authorities expressed their deep gratitude to the Bangladesh Coast Guard for their swift and effective action.
Bangladesh Coast Guard has been ensuring the security of coastal areas while also engaging in various humanitarian activities. This incident was one such example.
