One of the babies died on July 29 of an infection, while another died on August 10 due to apnoea (breathing difficulties), said Paediatric Department officials.

"More than Tk 1,00,000 has already been spent on their treatment in the last four months," said Nilufar Aktar, the mother.

She said that they are simply unable to pay Tk 40,000 charged by hospital authorities for her babies' treatment.

"The Social Welfare Department of BSMMU, some doctors and a few dailies assured us that they would help us financially by raising funds but we have not received any assistance from them as yet," Nilufar said.

"The condition of the two babies still alive seems to be improving," said Dr. Farjana, a paediatrician at Paediatric Department. Meanwhile, she added that, one of the babies gained two hundred grams while the other a hundred.

Nilufar, hailing from Debidwar, Comilla, gave birth to quadruplets -- two boys weighing 1.2 kilograms (kg) and 1.3 kg and two girls weighing 1.1 kg and 1.2 kg, by Caesarean Section on July 15.

"They are vulnerable for at least one year. So, intensive care should be taken at home," Dr. Alo, another paediatrician of the department.

When asked why they were releasing the babies so early, Dr. Alo said: "If the babies are in the hospital, they would be prone to infection more easily because of the many visitors."

Dr. Farjana added: "Two babies should be brought to the Shishu Bikash Kendra of BSMMU once in three months for check up.

A visit to ward 222 of the paediatric department, on Monday, showed Nilufar and two of her relatives preparing to go home, but were downhearted as they were unable to pay Tk 40,000.

Nilufar added that they have paid major part of the expenses by borrowing money from relatives and donations from well wishers but were worried about the expenses that would be incurred on them in the future.

"Though most dailies published this incident and wrote about our financial crisis, no individual or welfare organisation has came forward to help us," she said.

Officials of paediatrics department said that the birth of quadruplets is indeed a very rare incident and there are less than 100 quadruplets in the world. The last known quadruplets in Bangladesh were born at Ad-Din Hospital in Dhaka in August 2004.

Nilufar requests the rich people to help her by donations to account number-7277, of Janata Bank, Kuthi Bazar Branch, Police Station-Koshba, Brahmanbaria and her cell phone number is 0187403588.