KMC reopens early under pressure from students
Khulna Medical College (KMC), which was declared closed for an indefinite period on Sunday amid tension between two groups of Swadhinata Chikitshak Parishad (Swachip) at the medical college hospital, reopened yesterday.
Following a meeting held at the office of Khulna City Mayor Talukder Abdul Khaleque on Sunday night, the KMC academic council sat in a meeting at 1:30pm yesterday with acting Principal Dr Kazi Hamid Asgar in the chair and decided to reopen the college today (Tuesday). But the students compelled the KMC authorities to resume classes at 2:30pm.
At Sunday night's meeting, Mayor Talukder Abdul Khaleque asked Swachip leaders not to meddle in KMC academic issues and keep the college free from politics. The deputy commissioner of Khulna, KMC acting Principal Dr Kazi Hamid Asgar, and Dr Sheikh Baharul Alam, Khulna unit chief Swadhinata Chikitshak Parishad (Swachip), were present.
The mayor also asked the acting principal to withdraw the closure notice and reopen the college.
The closure was a sequel to last week's unrest over inviting Swachip leader Dr Sheikh Baharul Alam as chief guest at a function at KMCH on Wednesday. A faction of doctors of Swadhinata Chikitshak Parishad (Swachip) proposed the name of Baharul Alam at a meeting on Wednesday while the other faction opposed it.
The rival doctors also scuffled over selection of the chief guest at the meeting. Police intervened and brought the situation under control.
On Thursday, doctors loyal to Sheikh Baharul Alam assaulted acting Principal Dr Kazi Hamid Asgar. They also asked him not to interfere in any policy matter of the college.
On Saturday, a group of KMC students backed by Baharul faction locked the office room of Hamid Asgar demanding his removal. On the same day, employees of KMCH brought out a procession on the hospital premises demanding punishment of the doctors who assaulted Dr Hamid Asgar on Thursday.
Amid tension between the two groups of doctors of Swadhinata Chikitshak Parishad (Swachip), the KMC academic council, after a meeting on Sunday, declared the college closed for an indefinite period.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel.
Comments