Doctors at Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) have announced a new protest programme, demanding the immediate arrest of remaining suspects involved in the recent attacks on physicians and drafting of legislation on health protection, which includes the formation of a specialised health police force.
The announcement was made by Dr Abdul Ahad, a senior doctor at DMCH’s Neurosurgery Department, on Monday at 4pm after a meeting in the hospital’s conference room.
Addressing the press at the gate of the administrative building, Dr Ahad outlined the protest plan, reports UNB.
As part of their programme, the protesting doctors will conduct a sit-in at their respective workplaces from 8am to 10am on Tuesday, followed by the resumption of outpatient services from 10am to 1pm. Emergency services, which were restored on Sunday evening, will continue to operate without interruption.
Indoor services and routine work will continue on a limited scale until further notice, Dr Ahad said, adding that private chamber consultations will also remain available to minimise disruption to patient care.
Dr Ahad strongly condemned the recent attacks on doctors, labelling them as part of a broader conspiracy by allies of the previous fascist regime aimed at destabilising the nation. He urged the government to deploy security forces at all medical institutions, warning that without such measures, further attacks could occur.
This evening, a significant security presence was observed at DMCH, where personnel from Border Guard Bangladesh, the police, and the Rapid Action Battalion were stationed to protect the medical staff.
Hundreds of security forces were deployed in front of the hospital’s emergency department, reflecting the heightened concern for the safety of healthcare workers.
Earlier on August 31, a patient died at DMCH, after which agitated loved ones alleged negligence on the part of the doctors and thrashed three of them at the hospital premises, prompting the doctors to call a strike.
Then the doctors withdrew their call for a “complete shutdown” of medical services across the country upon assurances from the health adviser to the interim government of security and arresting of the individuals who manhandled the doctors.
Subsequently, two arrests were made, and security has been beefed up.
DMCH’s emergency department started operating again on Monday afternoon, although the outpatient department still remains closed.
