Limb transplant in Cumilla has entered a new era with the successful reattachment of a toe in place of a missing thumb, conducted at a private hospital in the city. According to doctors, this is the first such surgery completed successfully in Cumilla.
At a press conference held on Friday at People’s Hospital, lead surgeon Dr. Kamrul Islam Mamun stated, “This limb transplant in Cumilla marks a significant milestone for the city. Just last week, we also reattached a severed hand at another private hospital—also under our supervision. This success offers new possibilities for complex surgeries within Bangladesh.”
The patient, Ashraful Alam, a former expatriate car driver in Saudi Arabia, lost his left thumb in a road accident in 2024. Upon returning to Kapasia in Gazipur, he sought treatment from various hospitals but was told that the thumb couldn’t be saved unless he opted for expensive treatment abroad. However, his despair turned to hope after reaching Cumilla, where doctors successfully transplanted a toe from his left foot onto his left hand.
“I had lost hope after consulting hospitals in both Saudi Arabia and Bangladesh,” Ashraful said. “I never imagined I’d find a solution in my own country through this limb transplant in Cumilla.”
Dr. Kawsar Hamid, Associate Professor of Orthopedic Surgery at Central Medical College Hospital, praised the operation as a model for the rest of the country. “Nothing like this has been done in Cumilla before. The team led by Dr. Kamrul has now successfully attached a toe in place of a finger, and that too with remarkable results.”
District Civil Surgeon Dr. Ali Nur Mohammad Bashir Ahmed said, “Such an advanced limb transplant in Cumilla is unheard of in our region. This could drastically reduce the need for expensive surgeries abroad and bring quality treatment to ordinary people here.”
Ending on a hopeful note, this landmark limb transplant in Cumilla has not only set a regional precedent but also positioned the local healthcare system as capable of handling world-class reconstructive surgeries.
