Intern doctors at Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College Hospital went on an indefinite strike early Wednesday after one of their fellow interns was allegedly assaulted during a late-night altercation with patient attendants.
The strike was announced after a clash between intern doctors, medical students and relatives of a child patient at the hospital’s emergency department, leaving at least six people injured.
Intern doctors at Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College Hospital went on an indefinite strike early Wednesday after one of their fellow interns was allegedly assaulted during a late-night clash with relatives of a patient.
According to witnesses, clash broke out around 12:30am when a child was brought to the emergency unit.
An argument reportedly broke out between an intern doctor and the patient’s attendants, which soon escalated into a physical confrontation, which left at least six people injured.
Medical students alleged that the patient’s relatives later brought in additional people from outside the hospital, who attacked an intern doctor.
The violence spread after other interns and students rushed to the emergency department upon learning of the incident. The confrontation continued from around 12:45am until 1:30am in and around the emergency unit.
Those injured included intern doctors Taspianul Haque and Reza Niloy, a fourth-year medical student, Abrar Hossain and Zahid from Baluchar in Sylhet city, along with another patient’s attendant whose identity could not be confirmed immediately.
The clash created panic among patients and their family members at the emergency department.
Rakin Hannan, an intern doctor at the hospital, said one of the injured interns was in critical condition while the other was under medical observation.
He added that three injured relatives of the child patient were also receiving treatment at the hospital.
Police from Kotwali Police Station arrived at the hospital after receiving reports of the violence. Tension lingered for some time as officers worked to restore order. Several medical students were seen carrying sticks and wooden stumps during the unrest.
Officer-in-Charge Khan Mainul Zakir of Kotwali Police Station said additional police personnel had been deployed at the hospital to maintain law and order and prevent any further violence.
“The matter is under investigation,” the OC said.
At around 2:30am, both the Intern Doctors’ Forum and the general students of Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College issued separate statements condemning the alleged assault on the intern doctor.
The Intern Doctors’ Forum demanded the immediate identification and exemplary punishment of those responsible, enhanced security for doctors and healthcare workers, and effective measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.
The forum said intern doctors would continue their indefinite strike until their demands were met and a safe working environment was ensured.
Meanwhile, the general students of the medical college also announced an indefinite suspension of academic activities, saying the programme would remain in force until adequate workplace safety could be guaranteed.
