23 'patients' admitted ahead of MP's visit, leave hospital soon after in Ctg's Anwara

At least 23 people were admitted to Anwara Upazila Health Complex in Chattogram shortly before a scheduled visit by the local member of parliament and left the hospital soon after the inspection ended, raising questions over the circumstances of their admission.

The incident took place yesterday (23 February).

Chattogram-13 (Anwara–Karnaphuli) constituency MP and BNP Central Executive Committee member Sarwar Jamal Nizam visited the health complex around 12:30pm and left the facility at about 1pm after completing the inspection.

Hospital sources said the individuals admitted earlier in the morning claimed they had been injured in clashes at different locations on the day of the 13th national parliamentary election.

They reportedly received treatment at private hospitals in Chattogram city before coming to the Upazila health complex after feeling unwell again.

Many of them were seen with bandages wrapped around their arms and other parts of the body, sources added. However, shortly after the MP concluded his visit, all 23 individuals left the hospital.

Two patients who had been admitted earlier, Md Alamgir from the Majargate area and Mohammad Hossain from Pirkhain, alleged that they were temporarily removed from their assigned beds to accommodate the newly admitted patients.

They said their beds were returned once the visitors left.

Contacted for comment, the health complex's Family Planning Officer Mahtab Uddin Chowdhury said several patients had been admitted in the morning for follow-up treatment and were placed in two male wards.

"The allegation that regular patients were forced to leave the wards is not true," he said.

Attempts were made several times to reach MP Sarwar Jamal Nizam over the phone for comment regarding the hospital visit, but he did not respond.