Operations at the National Institute of Ophthalmology and Hospital were suspended on Wednesday following clashes involving hospital doctors and staff, patients injured during the July movement, and general patients.
The incident occurred around 11am and left hundreds of patients without care, prompting heavy security deployment on the premises.
According to eyewitnesses and hospital sources, tensions erupted after some July movement victims—who had sustained eye injuries—entered the hospital director’s office, claiming they were being denied proper treatment.
During the confrontation, the group reportedly poured petrol on themselves and confined the director inside his office for nearly two hours. Staff members and a few others later managed to escort him out of the building, after which he left the premises immediately.
In response, doctors, officials, and employees declared a work stoppage citing safety concerns. Verbal altercations soon escalated into physical clashes involving general patients' relatives. Witnesses say doctors, staff, and some general patients assaulted the July-injured patients, prompting intervention from law enforcement.
As word spread, more July-injured individuals from hospitals including PG and NITOR rushed to the eye hospital and attempted to lay siege to the compound. They clashed briefly with members of the police, RAB, and the army. After being dispersed from the hospital grounds, the group blocked the adjacent road from 5pm to 6:30pm.
Lieutenant Colonel (Retd.) Akbar Kamal, CEO of the July Smriti Foundation, later assured that all individuals involved in the incident would be identified and held accountable within 24 hours. Following his statement, the road blockade was lifted.
Patients caught in the crossfire expressed deep frustration. Bulbul Nahar, who had been waiting eight days for retinal surgery, said: “They gave me dates multiple times but never followed through. Today, they forced me out, saying no more operations will be done. Yet all my documents are still with them.”
Raihan, a patient from Meherpur, said he was hospitalized after an eye injury from a tile-cutting accident. “Now they’ve asked us to leave because of the clash. I have no choice but to go home without treatment.”
Another patient, Anwar from Uttara, added, “I came for a consultation only to find the entire hospital shut down. No one can tell me when it will reopen.”
Hospital staff confirmed the shutdown. “Since the clash, all departments are closed. Doctors, officials, staff—everyone has left,” said Zahid, a staff member. “Until further instruction from the higher authorities, we won’t return to work.”
As of 8:30pm on Wednesday, heavy security remained in place inside and outside the hospital, with police and army personnel stationed to ensure safety. The situation was reported to be under control.
Hospital Director Prof Dr Khayer Ahmed Chowdhury said: “We cannot say yet when operations will resume. A decision will be made after consulting all concerned.”
Meanwhile, the July-injured patients claim they were mistreated by hospital staff.
One injured patient, Yamin, said: “We came to discuss our treatment, but officials twisted the issue and attacked us instead.” Another patient alleged that both hospital staff and even security forces physically assaulted them. “We only want proper medical care. Is that too much to ask?”