Situation Worsens at KMCH
Patients suffer as rival doctors lock horns
Employees of Khulna Medical College Hospital and Khulna Medical College bring out a silent procession on the campus yesterday demanding removal of 'politicised and corrupt' doctors to ensure proper medical service to patients. Photo: STAR
A volatile situation is prevailing at Khulna Medical College and Hospital (KMCH) as a group of students of the medical college locked the office of Superintendent Dr Kazi Hamid Asgar yesterday morning demanding his removal. The students, backed by a faction of the KMCH unit of Swadhinata Chikitshak Parishad (SCP), were also staging sit-in on the campus as of filing of this report at 5:00pm. They said the sit-in will continue until the superintendent is removed as he, what they said, failed to resolve the crisis created at the hospital following untoward incidents occurred on the campus on Wednesday and Thursday. On Wednesday, two groups of Swadhinata Chikitshak Parisahd (SCP) scuffled over selection of the chief guest at a function for installation of a most modern Endoscopy machine for gastroenterology department of the KMCH. Police intervened and brought the situation under control. As a sequel to the incident, the physicians loyal to Dr Sheikh Baharul Alam, president of the Khulna unit of SCP and central vice president of Bangladesh Medical Association, (BMA) on Thursday assaulted KMCH Superintendent Dr Kazi Hamid Asgar as his supporters opposed the name of Dr Baharul Alam as chief guest of the function at Wednesday's meeting of SCP. The SCP faction led by Dr Baharul Alam began a three-hour work stoppage yesterday demanding removal of the superintendent. As two rival groups of physicians are now locked in agitation and mud slinging against each other, 23 patients of general ward have already left the hospital out of panic. On the other hand, general employees of KMCH fuelled the tense situation announcing agitation programme demanding removal and punishment of four doctors who are inciting doctors and students to create unrest at the hospital demanding removal of Superintendent Dr Kazi Hamid Asgar who is also holding the charge of acting Principal of Khulna Medical College. The brought out a silent procession in the hospital compound at 9:30 am yesterday under the banner of KMCH Employees' Union demanding an immediate end to politicisation of KMCH and KMC administration. KMCH Workers' Union President Sharifuzzaman Biju yesterday alleged that four doctors --SCP Khulna unit President Dr Sheikh Baharul Alam, Assistant Registrar of Medicine Ward Dr Jewel Krishna Shur, Dr Bishnupada Saha and Dr Rabiul Alam--are creating unrest in their bid to politicise the administration under banner of Swadhinata Chikitshak Parishad (SCP). Contacted, Superintendent Dr Asgar said he has applied for leave on health ground until September 21. I will seek extension of my leave by another week if KMCH situation does not improve, he added.
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