Several journalists were injured after being attacked by security and cleaning staff of Ad-din Hospital in the capital’s Mogbazar on Saturday evening while attempting to collect news.
Witnesses said journalists faced severe obstruction and were eventually chased and pelted with hard objects, even in the presence of law enforcement agencies.
According to hospital sources, the hospital entrances were shut down after the Health Minister left following an afternoon visit. Security and cleaning staff were seen taking position in front of Gate No. 1. When journalists tried to enter the hospital premises for news coverage, they were stopped.
Subsequent arguments with hospital officials, staff, and nurses turned the situation heated.
Officers from Moghbazar Police Station and members of the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) arrived at the scene to calm the situation. However, eyewitnesses alleged that tensions escalated further between journalists and security personnel despite the presence of law enforcers. At one point, journalists were chased and various hard objects were hurled at them, leaving several injured.
“Staff became enraged against us right in front of the law enforcement agencies. Around 50 to 100 people chased us. Hard objects were thrown at us. Many were injured,” said a journalist who sustained injuries.
Professor Nahida Yasmin, Director General of Ad-din Hospital, told journalists that no one could be allowed inside. “The Health Minister has left the seal in place. Now it is not possible to let anyone inside,” she said.
She also urged journalists not to disrupt patient care. “We still have over 300 patients here. But you are not understanding one thing. Your own relatives could have been here today. The way you are running and rushing inside is creating panic. This matter is not unique to our hospital. Why are you not understanding that?” she added.
