Interns at Sylhet Osmani Hospital go on indefinite strike over 'assault' on fellows
The clash broke out around 12:45am and continued till 1:30am.
Intern doctors at Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College Hospital began an indefinite work stoppage early today (8 July) after a late-night clash involving interns, medical students and a patient's relatives over an alleged assault on a fellow doctor, leaving at least six people injured.
As of 8:30pm, the strike and work stoppage were continuing, disrupting hospital services and causing hardship for patients. Earlier in the afternoon, protesting intern doctors met the Sylhet Metropolitan Police commissioner, but the meeting ended without a resolution, according to sources familiar with the discussions.
The clash broke out around 12:45am at the hospital's emergency department and adjoining premises and continued until about 1:30am. The injured included intern doctors Taspianul Haque and Reza Niloy, Abrar Hossain and Zahid, a fourth-year medical student, and a relative of the patient.
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Witnesses said several relatives brought a child to the emergency department at around 12:30am, when an argument with an intern doctor escalated into a scuffle.
Medical students alleged that the patient's attendants later returned with additional people from outside, who assaulted the intern doctor.
Other interns and medical students rushed to the scene after being informed, leading to clashes between the two sides that left at least six people injured. The incident also created panic among patients and their attendants at the emergency department.
Rakin Hannan, assistant general secretary of the Intern Doctors' Forum at the hospital, said one of the two injured interns was in critical condition while the other was under observation.
He added that three injured relatives of the patient were also receiving treatment at the hospital.
Officer-in-Charge Khan Mainul Zakir of Kotwali Police Station said additional police had been deployed at the hospital to prevent further untoward incidents.
"No one has filed a written complaint yet. However, the matter is being investigated, and necessary legal action will be taken against those involved after the investigation," he said.
The hospital's Intern Doctors' Forum and students of Osmani Medical College issued separate statements early today, condemning the alleged assault.
The Intern Doctors' Forum demanded the immediate identification and exemplary punishment of those responsible, adequate security for doctors and healthcare workers, deployment of additional police at the emergency department, and effective measures to prevent similar incidents.
The forum announced that interns would continue their indefinite work stoppage until their demands are met and a safe working environment is ensured.
The general students of the medical college also declared an indefinite academic shutdown, saying the programme would continue until workplace safety is guaranteed.
