Activities at the Bangladesh Institute of Research & Rehabilitation in Diabetes, Endocrine and Metabolic Disorders (Birdem) returned to a normalcy yesterday as its doctors joined their workplace after ending a two-day work abstention.
On Tuesday, the physicians of the hospital went for an indefinite strike protesting the attack on three of their colleagues by some people centring the death of a patient there.
“The doctors joined their work around 8am,” said Shahidul Haque Mallik, director of Birdem.
Due to the strike, hundreds of patients suffered not getting medical service in the prominent hospital.
“We came here with my ailing sister three days back and stayed at a hotel that cost us extra money,” said Abul Momen who hailed from Joypurhat. He was very happy like others to observe the latest development of the strike.
As a part of strike, some 200 doctors formed a human chain at Shahbagh intersection for an hour since 11:30am demanding security at workplace, from where they declared to observe a one-hour work abstention from Saturday noon holding black badge and to launch a case in the incident.
The doctors yesterday decided to return their work after the withdrawal of Additional Superintendent of Police of Dhaka ABM Masud Hossain, whom they blamed for instigating the assault.
Meanwhile, the BIRDEM authorities have beefed up security to prevent untoward incident.
On the other hand, the relatives of the patient, Sirajul Islam, in a press beefing denied the allegation of any attack.
The deceased’s daughter Farhana Nasreen said: “We did not vandalise the hospital and attack the doctors, during which there were many TV channels’ cameras as well as Rab and police personnel.”
“My father was admitted on the 12th floor, but doctors claimed that we run vandalism on the 4th floor…how it could be possible,” she questioned, said adding that “We are going to file a case with Ramna police station against the responsible doctors for negligence in my father’s treatment.”