They sparked disruptions and clashes with the medical staff.
The emergency medical services at Bangladesh’s Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) were halted as doctors went on strike in response to an attack on colleagues.
According to reports, three neurosurgery doctors of DMCH were assaulted on August 31, 2024, and the emergency department was vandalised.
On the morning of September 1, medical professionals ceased emergency services, citing concerns for their safety.
Assistant Director of DMCH’s Administration, Mohammad Abdur Rahman, officially confirmed this development, stating:
“This morning, the emergency department doctors stopped providing services due to security reasons.
“On Saturday, a group of outsiders caused a disturbance. They dragged doctors out of the operating rooms and assaulted them.”
Subsequently, the doctors identified the perpetrators through CCTV footage and issued an ultimatum for their arrest.
Failure to apprehend the culprits within 24 hours prompted the announcement of a strike.
Tensions escalated at DMCH following allegations of neglect in the treatment of a critically injured private university student, Ahsanul Islam.
Ahsanul Islam sustained severe injuries in a road accident while commuting from the airport to Mirpur on his motorcycle around 10 pm on August 30.
Initially taken to Kurmitola General Hospital by nearby individuals, he was subsequently transferred to DMCH.
However, Ahsanul Islam succumbed to his injuries on the morning of August 31.
Amid mounting accusations of medical negligence following Ahsanul Islam’s death, his classmates and relatives converged on DMCH.
They sparked disruptions and clashes with the medical staff.
Inspector Bachchu Mia, in charge of the DMCH police outpost, reported the intense atmosphere throughout the night, as allegations of malpractice spread.
Following the uproar, a meeting was held between the doctors and the aggrieved students in the hospital director’s office.
DMCH Director Brigadier General Mohammad Asaduzzaman insisted that no negligence occurred in Ahsanul Islam’s medical care.
A suspect has been apprehended in connection with these violent acts.
Sanjay Pal Joy was taken into custody from Gaibandha on September 2.
The arrest was confirmed by the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) via their official Facebook page.
Emergency services, which had been reinstated on the evening of September 1, will persist without interruption.
Dr Abdul Ahad, a distinguished figure in DMCH’s Neurosurgery Department, conveyed this assurance following the meeting in the hospital’s conference room.
In a statement to the press, Dr Ahad disclosed that the protesting doctors would engage in a sit-in at their respective workstations.
Dr Ahad announced that indoor services and regular activities will persist in a restricted capacity until further directives.
Strongly denouncing the recent assaults on medical professionals, Dr Ahad attributed these attacks to a larger conspiracy.
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