Doctors at Cox's Bazar District Sadar Hospital have gone on strike and locked all departments after a doctor was attacked by the relatives of a patient who died during treatment.
Later, in the afternoon, a military team inspected the hospital, and although the emergency department resumed operations, other departments remained closed.
The incident occurred early Wednesday when a young man named Aziz died in the hospital's ICU.
The patient's family alleged that Aziz died immediately after receiving a painkiller injection, claiming it was a case of wrongful treatment. In anger, they attacked a doctor named Kazi Sajeeb inside the hospital. Since then, the authorities have suspended all medical services.
The hospital staff, including doctors and nurses, announced that they would not return to work unless the attackers were arrested within 24 hours.
The doctors reported that due to the assault and humiliation of a doctor, a group of agitated intern doctors halted the hospital's normal operations. They also said that no services would be provided to inpatients unless the situation was resolved.
They even forcibly stopped medical activities in every ward. Although the emergency department remained operational, it too was shut down around 11:30am as doctors and ward staff protested.
Ward Master Nurul Huda said: "If safety can not be ensured, no staff will return to work. This must be secured within the next 24 hours. There are frequent attacks on doctors and staff, leading to a sense of insecurity among everyone. Ensure safety first, then service."
The leader of the ward staff, Shovan Dash, said: "We have not received any salary for the past three months, yet we ensured services. But now we are being attacked ourselves. How can we work without security?"
Dr GRM Jihadul Islam, resident medical officer (Administration) of Cox's Bazar Sadar Hospital, mentioned that doctors, nurses, and leaders of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement are in discussions to resolve the issue. If no decision is reached, the hospital staff might go on an indefinite strike.