Journalist dies allegedly for a doc's callousness
Journalists formed a human chain on the premises of Kurigram Press Club yesterday, demanding punishment of a doctor for his callous act that allegedly led to the death of MA Based, editor of Dwip Desh, a Bangla fortnightly published from Roumari upazila. At the programme, jointly organised by Kurigram Press Club, local Television Journalists' Forum and Print Media Forum, the newsmen held callousness of Chilmari Upazila Health and Family Planning Officer Dr Motasim Billah Azad responsible for the death on Saturday night. Journalist Based fell ill at his office on Saturday evening and he was taken to Roumari upazila health complex, said his family members and local journalists. After primary treatment there, the doctor referred him to Kurigram Sadar Hospital the same evening. While crossing the Brahmaputra River by a boat on the way to Kurigram Sadar Hospital, Based felt very bad and accompanying relatives took him to nearby Chilmari upazila health complex at around 9:00pm. Mamun, a doctor at the health complex, suggested taking Based to Kurigram Sadar Hospital or Rangpur Medical College Hospital by an ambulance with oxygen support and accordingly, Based was taken onto the ambulance of the health complex. Hearing the matter, Chilmari Upazila Health and Family Planning Officer Dr Motasim Billah objected to the bid to send the ambulance outside the upazila. Based was again taken to the health complex and Dr Motasim ignored Based's wife Shahanaj Parvin's entreaty for allowing the ambulance for carrying the patient. Informed by Chilmari journalists, Kurigram Civil Surgeon (CS) Dr Lokman Hakim ordered Dr Mostasim to give the ambulance for carrying the patient but to no effect. And Based died at Chilmari upazila health complex at around 10:30pm. Contacted, Dr Motasim said, “There was disturbance in the ambulance and hence local health department had decided not to allow its service outside Chilmari.” CS Dr Lokman Hakim, on the other hand, said, “The ambulance has been given for serving patients. There is no scope to bar its use for the purpose." “A three-member inquiry team, led by Bhurungamari upazila Health and Family Planning Officer Dr Saifur Rahman, has been asked to submit report on the matter within three days. We will take step following the report,” he said. Ahsan Habib Nilu, secretary of Kurigram Press Club, said, “We have learned that the ambulance of Chilmari health complex was in good condition. We demand removal or transfer of Dr Motasim for the sake of an acceptable investigation. We have told the civil surgeon to remove him within 48 hours. Otherwise, we shall call a tougher programme in this regard.”
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