Biswabrata Goswami
KRISHNAGAR, 11 FEB: In a rare triumph of human altruism, the lifelong wish of Rabeya Bibi Sekh, 66, to give sight to the blind was fulfilled on Tuesday when her donated corneas were successfully transplanted to two visually impaired individuals, restoring their vision.
The act, the culmination of her selfless pledge made in 2024 through a legally registered voluntary organisation, was meant to be a celebration of life and hope. Yet, in a grim twist that has stunned the medical community and public health advocates alike, the donor’s family was subsequently arrested on charges of organ trafficking — turning an extraordinary gesture of generosity into a maelstrom of suspicion and controversy.
Rabeya Bibi Sekh of Senpur Shyamnagar Para under Kotwali police limits, Nadia district, passed away at 9.50 a.m. on 8 February at her residence due to cardio-respiratory failure with myocardial infarction following a cerebrovascular accident (CVA). True to her wish, her son, Amir Chand Sekh — known locally for promoting cornea donation awareness — immediately followed the prescribed medical protocol. A qualified medical team retrieved both corneas, which were deposited at Murshidabad Medical College & Hospital’s Eye Bank and later transplanted successfully into two blind patients, fulfilling her dream of gifting “a second sight” to those in darkness.
The Eye Bank officially certified the donation, noting that the corneas were received in time and in excellent condition. The certificate acknowledged the noble act and expressed gratitude to the donor and her family, emphasising the societal importance of organ donation in combating corneal blindness.
However, the celebration was short-lived. Before burial rites could be completed, a section of local residents alleged that the family had “sold the eyes” of the deceased, sparking tension in the neighbourhood. Kotwali police initially took the family into custody to protect them from potential mob violence, and Rabeya Bibi’s body was sent for post-mortem examination.
By Monday, the situation took a darker turn. Acting on a written complaint by a neighbour, Rasid Sekh (44), police filed a case alleging that the donor had been ill-treated during her lifetime and that her organs were removed for financial gain. The complaint also claimed links between the family and organ traffickers. Five members of the family — three women and two men — were arrested under sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and remanded to three days’ judicial custody.
Gana Darpan, the Kolkata-based registered voluntary organisation that facilitated the pledge, issued a statement affirming that the cornea retrieval was conducted strictly according to legal and ethical norms. The organisation described Rabeya Bibi’s decision as an act of “scientific temper and humanitarian commitment.”
Human rights activist Indranil Chatterjee criticised the police and district administration, alleging that they had succumbed to pressure from religious fundamentalists and political interests, highlighting how social prejudice and misinformation can overshadow documented medical facts.
Public health experts warn that the case exposes the fragile social acceptance of organ donation at the grassroots level, where myths, suspicion, and communal anxieties can easily eclipse legally compliant medical procedures.
For the medical fraternity, the episode underscores a stark reality: the success of organ donation programmes depends not only on strict clinical protocols but also on the cultivation of public trust. For the family of Rabeya Bibi, the irony is bitter — a mother’s selfless gift has restored vision to two blind persons yet has left her loved ones facing criminal charges.
As the investigation continues, the transplanted corneas serve as a quiet testament to the donor’s final wish, a reminder of the profound human impact of organ donation, even in the midst of social distrust and controversy.
