Relatives of a patient assaulted an on-duty doctor at Dhaka Medical College Hospital following the patient’s death, triggering a brief shutdown of emergency services late Wednesday night.
The incident occurred at Medicine Ward 702 on the seventh floor of the hospital’s new building.
Rashi Begum, 33, died while undergoing treatment shortly after midnight. Soon after her death, her relatives alleged medical negligence and created chaos in the ward.
Ward master of the new building, Md Riaz, said “20 to 30 outsiders entered the ward from nearby areas, including Lalbagh and Kamrangirchar. They assaulted the on-duty doctor and two other hospital staff members suffered injuries while trying to protect the physician.”
Medical students later gathered in the ward in support of the doctors. Law enforcement agencies, including the army, RAB and other forces, arrived at the hospital to bring the situation under control.
Doctors temporarily closed the gate of the emergency department in protest.
Shahbagh police station duty officer Sub-Inspector Tarikul Islam said police brought four to five people to the station in connection with the assault. Authorities are investigating the incident.
Hospital authorities reopened the emergency department gate later that night.
