Mentally ill woman Dulali dies while undergoing treatment at Dhaka hospital

Dulali, a 40-year-old woman who had been suffering from mental health complications and whose plight recently drew widespread public attention, has died while undergoing treatment at Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College Hospital in Dhaka.

Hospital authorities confirmed to media that Dulali passed away on Sunday morning (May 31) in the hospital’s Intensive Care Unit (ICU).

According to attending physicians, she was suffering from severe anemia, electrolyte imbalance and septic shock. Her condition deteriorated sharply on Saturday night, prompting her transfer to the ICU, where she later succumbed despite medical efforts.

Doctors said Dulali had been struggling with long-term mental health issues in addition to multiple critical physical complications.

The case gained national attention after local resident Musa Karim Ripon found her in a seriously ill condition in an alley near his residence on May 22. Unable to provide clear details about her identity, Dulali was initially taken to the National Institute of Mental Health and later to several healthcare facilities, including Dhaka Medical College Hospital, in an attempt to secure treatment.

After repeated difficulties in arranging medical care, Ripon staged a public appeal outside the Prime Minister’s residence in Gulshan, holding a placard reading “Save Dulali.” The incident quickly went viral on social media, sparking public concern and calls for intervention.

Following the widespread attention, Dulali was admitted to Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College Hospital, where her treatment was overseen under government supervision. The Prime Minister’s Special Assistant for Health Affairs, S.M. Ziauddin Haider, had earlier stated that all necessary measures were being taken to ensure her treatment.

Despite intensive medical efforts and public support, Dulali died on Sunday morning, bringing a tragic end to a case that had touched many across the country and highlighted ongoing concerns over access to healthcare for vulnerable and mentally ill individuals.