Bogura intern doctors end work abstention after security assurances

Intern doctors at Shaheed Ziaur Rahman Medical College Hospital in Bogura withdrew their work abstention after nearly 48 hours, following assurances of stronger security and disciplinary action against those accused of attacking them.

Hospital Deputy Director Dr Manzur-e-Morshed confirmed the decision around 3:45pm today (3 September).

Five leaders of Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD), the BNP's student wing, accused of involvement in the attack were permanently expelled from the organisation.

The interns had announced the work abstention following a clash with relatives of a patient on Tuesday night. As part of the protest, they closed the hospital's outpatient ticket counters around 9:45am yesterday, causing difficulties for patients who had travelled from distant areas for treatment. The emergency department, however, remained operational.

Around noon, Bogura Deputy Commissioner Toufiqur Rahman and other government officials, police, hospital authorities, political leaders and representatives of doctors' organisations held a meeting with the intern doctors.

After around three and a half hours of talks, the interns announced that they were withdrawing the abstention.

Hospital authorities also assured the interns of stronger security and action against those involved in the attack.

"A regrettable incident involving the intern doctors took place on the night of 1 September. Following that, the interns went on work abstention, making several demands. We held discussions with them today (Thursday), and the talks were fruitful. The intern doctors have decided to withdraw the abstention," Manzur-e-Morshed said.

He said the interns had several demands, including stronger security, and the authorities hoped to meet them within the stipulated timeframe.

Manzur-e-Morshed also said steps had been initiated to deploy armed Ansar personnel at the hospital and establish a round-the-clock police outpost.

The work abstention began at midnight on Tuesday after a clash involving relatives of Abdul Malek, 55, who died while undergoing treatment at the hospital's medicine ward.

The intern doctors alleged that the patient's relatives attacked them with knives and iron rods, leaving at least 21 interns injured. The incident also involved vandalism of hospital equipment.

A case was filed with Bogura Sadar Police Station on Wednesday, naming seven people and several unidentified individuals over the alleged vandalism and theft.

Police have so far arrested six people in connection with the incident. They were later sent to jail by a court.