Family attacks doctors following child's death in Bogura, interns boycott work

Intern doctors at Shaheed Ziaur Rahman Medical College (SZMC) Hospital have been observing a work stoppage since 9pm yesterday (13 May), protesting an alleged attack on physicians after a child's death.

However, all services at the hospital remain operational.

The intern doctors of the hospital also formed a human chain around 12pm today (14 May), condemning the alleged assault on physicians and pressing forward a four-point demand.

Their demands include- ensuring the safety and security of physicians, bringing every ward of the hospital under CCTV surveillance, conducting a fair and impartial investigation into yesterday's incident and taking strict action against those responsible, and ensuring necessary administrative support and a safe working environment for intern doctors.

The protest followed the death of a child named Nihan at the hospital yesterday afternoon. Following the death, an altercation broke out between the child's relatives and on-duty physicians.

Both sides later accused each other of assault, after which the intern doctors announced the work stoppage.

President of the Intern Doctors' Association of SZMC Hospital, Niyamul Hasan, said the hospital has a capacity of 500 beds, although 1,200 beds have been installed, while around 3,000 patients are currently receiving treatment there.

"We provide services to patients day and night. Yet whenever anything happens, patients' relatives attack us. Doctors are being assaulted and humiliated almost every day at different hospitals. There is no security for doctors. That is why we have enforced a 24-hour work stoppage and placed four demands. If these demands are not met, the work stoppage will continue," he said.

According to hospital sources, Md Khokon of Seujgari area in Bogura admitted his five-month-old child, Nihan, to the hospital on Monday morning (11 May) with pneumonia.

Md Khokon said, "He (Nihan) had several other physical complications before being admitted to the hospital. His condition worsened on Wednesday afternoon, and he later died in the evening."

Following the death, the child's aunt became agitated and allegedly misbehaved with and pushed a physician, triggering tension at the hospital.

The child's uncle, Khorshed Alam, said, "At one stage, a group of intern doctors allegedly assaulted members of the family."

Later, physicians and Ansar personnel detained several family members, including the child's mother, aunt, and uncle. They were later released around 11pm after signing a written undertaking.

Director of SZMC Hospital, Mohammad Mohsin, said an attendant of the child had first physically confronted a physician and attempted to remove her niqab.

"I do not support any form of assault by either side. Later, the matter turned into an emotional issue. We have spoken to the patient's relatives. They are now remorseful and have admitted their mistake," he said.

He added that a three-member investigation committee has been formed based on the information received regarding the incident.