A woman died at Sher-e-Bangla Medical College Hospital in Barishal as her oxygen supply was removed to help another patient whose family had paid Tk 200 to a trolley man, alleges the family.

According to the victim's brother, Milon Halder, Dipali Sikder, 45, had been admitted to the hospital at 4:15pm on Wednesday with severe breathing difficulties.

Doctors instructed hospital staff to provide her with oxygen support on a trolley for two hours as no bed was available.

Milon alleged that around an hour after oxygen support began, trolley man Sohel disconnected the oxygen tube connected to the hospital’s piped oxygen system and took away the trolley with Dipali still on it.

“My sister died within a couple of minutes of the trolley being taken away. But doctors later told us that she died at around 6:15pm,” he said.

Saying that it was “not a death but a killing,” Milon demanded a proper investigation and punishment of those responsible.

He also said the deceased left behind a four-year-old daughter.

“I witnessed the incident myself. The trolley man, Sohel, took Tk 200 from another patient’s family and removed the oxygen line and moved away the trolley,” he alleged still on the hospital premises.

Milon said he had informed hospital staff and officials after the death. He said he later came to know that the trolley man had been suspended.

“Suspension alone is not enough. There must be justice,” he added.

According to the death certificate, the cause of death was “irreversible cardio-respiratory failure due to cardiogenic shock and transfusion reaction.”

Milon said Dipali was buried in Mehendiganj, Barishal on Wednesday night. The family formally submitted a written complaint to assistant director of the hospital, Dr Mahmudul Hasan, this afternoon.

The matter also drew the attention of journalists during a visit to the hospital by Dr Ziauddin Hyder, personal assistant to the prime minister. Responding to reporters’ questions, he assured that the issue would be looked into.

Dr Mahmudul Hasan confirmed receiving the complaint. “Trolley man Sohel was suspended from duty even before we received the written complaint. A three-member investigation committee was also formed on Thursday, headed by Deputy Director Dr AKM Nazmul Ahsan. Further action will be taken after the investigation report is submitted,” he said.