AL men beat up doctor

Some activists of ruling Awami League yesterday assaulted a doctor of Belkuchi Upazila Health Complex in Sirajganj for “refusing to admit a critically injured patient”.

Demanding punishment of attackers, doctors and employees of the 50-bed Belkuchi Upazila Health stopped work for around four hours from 8:30am. However, emergency medical services were available.

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Seriously injured Hasan Ali of Konabari village in Belkuchi upazila was taken to the health complex around 8:00am. But on-duty doctor Shakhawat Hossain asked Hasan to go to Sirajganj General Hospital as his condition was critical. Hasan had a motorcycle accident, said Kamrul Hasan, Belkuchi upazila health officer.

At one stage, some AL men went to the hospital and insisted that their patient be admitted. As Shakhawat refused, they assaulted Shakhawat, alleged Kamrul.

"The patient's condition was critical and his treatment was not possible at the upazila health complex. So, the on-duty doctor asked them [AL activists] to take their patient to district general hospital, but they became angry and beat up the emergency doctor mercilessly on the hospital ground," said Kamrul.

Hearing the news, Sirajganj civil surgeon, superintendent of police, local lawmaker and local AL leaders rushed to the spot and assured the doctors of taking action against the culprits.

Following the assurance, doctors resumed work around 12:30pm, said Monjur Rahman, civil surgeon of Sirajganj.

The director general of the Directorate General of Health Services was informed of the matter, the civil surgeon said.

Contacted, Eusuf Z Khan, president of Belkuchi upazila unit AL, said the attackers were activists of AL and its associated bodies.

"We don't support such criminal activities," said the AL president, adding that the criminals must be punished.

Sazzad Hossain, officer-in-charge of Belkuchi Police Station, said they would take action against the accused, if any case was filed in this connection.