Khorshed Alam 14 from Begumganj Noakhali was admitted to the PG hospital s Ear Nose and Throat (ENT) department about a month ago with maxillary growth, a severe complication in his face He has been waiting for an operation and doctors said that his condition was getting inoperable as time was run ning out

In the same ward of the hospital Md Yusuf Ah 14 is passing his days in mounting agony with a tumour in his mouth He can hardly breathe One of his eyes is af fected due to the tumour Doctors on duty said that

Yusuf needed immediate sur gical intervention

In the ENT ward of the PG hospital, there are at least a dozen other emergency pa tients— men women and children— who are now waiting to be operated upon immediately according to doctors in the department

The ENT department now cannot perform any major operations because 40 vital equipment seta required for operations were stolen from the sterilisation section of the hospital on September 20

An official of the hospital, requesting anonymity said

the theft must have been committed by someone within the hospital as there is enough evidence to suggest it

The hospital is trying to get fresh supply of the sets and these may be available within a day or two. said Prof MN Amin, head of the ENT department

The department has been trying to get the sets ev-ersince those were stolen, but due to administrative complications those could not be had earlier he added

Superintendent of the hospital Dr Moqbul Hossain said that about 7/8 stolen items were replaced within the last few days but the bulk could not be had as those were to be procured through official orders

Between Tk 10-20 thou sand is being made available to buy the lot which is available in the markets.' Dr Moqbul said

Prof Mohammad Tahir. Director of the hospital, said that following the theft, police was informed and he had immediately formed an enquiry committee comprising high officials.

"Immediately after the theft. I had asked the doctors concerned to buy the sets with our own funds. But this has not been possible because of the complications in processing the official orders," prof Tahir told The Daily Star.

Moreover, he said, he had contacted the Central Medical Store about the replacement but it was not in a position now to do so.

"Things are moving and we hope to replace the sets as soon as possible." Prof Tahir said.

The ENT department usually performs at least six major operations a day and more than 50 minor ones a week. Ever since the theft, not a single major operation could be performed.