Dhaka: A Bangladeshi father has sought the government's permission to euthanise his sons and grandson suffering from a rare disease as he cannot afford their medical treatment and they have "no hope of recovery".
Tofazzal Hossain, a fruit vendor in Meherpur, sent a letter to the deputy commissioner of Meherpur on Thursday to seeking permission to euthanise his sons, Abdus Sabur, 22, and Rahinul Islam, 13 and grandson Saurav Hossain, 8.
"My sons and grandson are suffering from a rare disease called duchnene muscular dystrophy. I cannot afford their medical treatment. Please, take responsibility for their treatment or allow me to put them to death," read the letter.
Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy is a severe muscle-wasting condition which causes patients to weaken and get progressively worse over time. The disease usually affects boys in early childhood. There is no cure for this disease.
Deputy Director of local government Khairul Ahsan said that they have visited Tofazzal's home and informed the concerned ministry about the matter, Prothom Alo reported.
Tofazzal told the paper that his elder son was diagnosed with duchenne muscular dystrophy at the age of 10 and younger son at the age of eight. His grandson was diagnosed with this disease one year ago.
His ordeal does not end here. Tofazzal's wife is mentally challenged and his daughter is separated from her husband and now living with the father. Mercy killing is forbidden in the Muslim-majority Bangladesh.
