Meherpur: Unable to bear their pains, a man has appealed to the government to permit euthanasia for his two sons and a grandchild suffering from an incurable disease.

Tofazzal Hossain, a resident of Berpara area of the district town, submitted a petition to district’s deputy commissioner Parimal Singh on Thursday in this regard, said Khairul Hasan, deputy director of the DC office.

In the petition, he urged the government to take the responsibility of treatment for his sons Abdus Sabur, 24, and Raihan, 18, and grandchild Saurav, 9, (only daughter’s son) who have been suffering from Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD), a genetic disorder characterised by progressive muscle degeneration and weakness, or give them permission for mercy killing.

DMD is caused by an absence of dystrophin, a protein that helps keep muscle cells intact. Symptom onset is in early childhood, usually between ages 3 and 5. The disease primarily affects boys, but in rare cases it can affect girls.

Muscle weakness can begin as early as age 3, first affecting the muscles of the hips, pelvic area, thighs and shoulders, and later the skeletal (voluntary) muscles in the arms, legs and trunk. The calves often are enlarged. By the early teens, the heart and respiratory muscles also are affected.

Sabur was affected by DMD while reading in Class-IV and Raihan and Saurav got the disease at the age of 8.

Tofazzal’s wife Shirina Begum is also mentally impaired.

Tofazzal had a betel and seasonal fruit shop. To manage money for the treatment of his sons and the grandchild, he had to sell his entire property but there is no improvement. He is now unable to bear the cost for their treatment.

Tofazzal was also pushed from pillar to post to find remedy for the disease but to no avail. He approached different persons, organisations and embassies seeking help.

Upon his request, the French Embassy in Dhaka contacted world famous specialists to help find medicines for the disease but their replies were not encouraging as they informed via internet that there is no medicine for the disease, said pediatric at Meherpur General Hospital Dr Mahbubul Alam.

Khairul Hasan, who is acting as DC in the absence of Parimal Singh, said they want to help the helpless family.