Aggrieved people swoop on docs staging protest
Amid panic due to clashes between striking interns and people around Khulna Medical College Hospital (KMCH), many patients left the hospital yesterday.
Aggrieved locals and patients' relatives, who foiled the interns' human chain programme in the morning, warned of 'serious consequences' if the latter's indefinite work stoppage programme is not withdrawn.
The Interne Doctors Association (IDA) of KMCH announced an indefinite work stoppage from yesterday and different other programmes including human chain and protest rallies in front of Sheikh Abu Naser Specialised Hospital, Khulna General Hospital and all upazila health complexes in the district.
They are agitating against manhandling of KMCH Assistant Registrar Dr Rafiqul Islam on Thursday noon by Sheikh Lenin, organising secretary of Shyamnagar upazila unit of the ruling Awami League.
Following a meeting of the interns at BMA auditorium in Khulna city on Friday evening, IDA General Secretary Dr Shuravi Ira Shuchi issued a press statement announcing continuation of their work stoppage until all their demands are met.
The demands include punishment for beating Dr Rafiqul Islam, adequate security for doctors and patients of KMCH, introduction of ID cards for visitors of patients and end to political influence in internal matters of the hospital.
Aggrieved at the interns' work stoppage programme, patients' relatives and the people living around KMCH area chased the interns and foiled their human chain programme in front of KMCH at 10:30am yesterday.
Security forces escorted the interns to a safer place inside the KMCH, said Shawkat Hossain, officer in charge (OC) of Sonadanga Police station.
He said, "Reba Sultana, 36, wife of businessman Ali Azam Titu of Phulbari gate area of Khulna city, went to KMCH for admission on Thursday as she has been suffering from a complicated disease. Her relatives got angry when KMCH Assistant Registrar Dr Rafiqul Islam reportedly hurled an insolent remark after seeing her in a cabin without his prior permission. At one stage of altercation, AL leader Lenin slapped Dr Rafiqul."
"Consequently, internee doctors and the patients' relatives started exchanging punches.
Later, police entered the hospital and brought the situation under control," he said.
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