A delegation of doctors yesterday visited Tungipara Upazila Health Complex, which was wrecked in a massive attack on Friday.
Dr Sheikh Abid Hossain, president of Bangladesh Medical Association’s Gopalganj unit who led the delegation, told reporters it would take four to five months to resume operations at the hospital in full swing.
He also said doctors at all the government and private hospitals in the district were on strike for the second day. “Patients suffered because of the strike but doctors will return to work soon.”
Meanwhile, doctors and nurses formed a human chain on the road in front of Gopalganj General Hospital in the morning, demanding that the attackers be brought to book.
The hospital authorities filed a case with Tungipara police station in connection with the attack, and police arrested 11 people, including Ali Akbar Khan, the prime accused.
On Friday, scores of people, mostly Gowhordanga Madrasa students and locals, engaged in savage acts of vandalism at the hospital after it was rumoured that a Hindu nurse had caused the death of Khadijatul Kobra, a Muslim patient, by giving her an injection used to kill dogs.
Akbar Ali’s son, Billal, spread the rumour by announcing it on the madrasa’s loudspeaker, said Ikram Hossain, sub-inspector of Tungipara police station.
At least 40 people, including the upazila health and family planning officer, Pabitra Kumar Kundu, and nurse Kakati Lata, sustained serious injuries in the attack.