Khulna docs on 48-hr strike protesting attack on fellow

Doctors at all public and private hospitals and private chambers in Khulna district began a 48-hour strike yesterday, protesting assault on a doctor, allegedly by an Awami League leader in Terokhada Upazila Health Complex six days ago.

They said local AL leader Wahiduzzaman and his men allegedly assaulted Dr Abdullah Al Mamun at Terokhada health complex.

Sheikh Baharul Alam, vice-president of Bangladesh Medical Association (BMA) Khulna unit, announced the work abstention programme after holding a meeting of the unit on Friday night.

All government and private-run hospitals, clinics, and private chambers of physicians remained closed yesterday, forcing the patients to go back without receiving treatment.

The striking doctors demanded immediate arrest and punishment of the accused AL leader.

Earlier on Thursday, the doctors observed a 12-hour strike on the same issue.

In Kushtia, Health Minister Mohammed Nasim has urged the physicians not to enforce any strike 'holding patients hostage.'

"We've made progress in the healthcare sector. Doctors must treat patients with patience on humanitarian ground," he said.

The minister came up with the remarks while addressing a conference on Kushtia Medical College campus on Friday night.

Pointing at the doctors, Nasim said there is no scope to send a patient home without treatment at any public hospital.

He, however, observed that patients' attendants should also not attack or harass doctors for their unintentional mistakes.

A law will be enacted to protect doctors from such attacks, he said.

Away in Dinajpur, a patient died at Joypurhat Modern Hospital around 10:30pm on Friday due to alleged negligence of doctors.

The deceased was Rashida Bewa, wife of late Abdur Razzak of Bamanpur village under Joypurhat Sadar upazila.

Family members said they took Rashida to hospital around 12.30pm with severe chest pain. Family members thought she might have suffered cardiac arrest, but Dr Firoz Hossain, the duty doctor, admitted her to the medicine ward instead of cardiology ward.

As her condition worsened in the evening, Dr Golam Rabbani, a cardiologist, suggested sending her to the cardiology department as she had suffered a heart attack, but she died at around 10.30pm, said family members.

Dr Mohammad Ali, superintendent of Joypurhat Modern Hospital, said they are investigating the allegation of negligence of doctors.