More than two weeks have passed, yet the deadlock at the National Institute of Ophthalmology and Hospital in Agargaon remains unresolved. Although emergency services are operational, regular activities including outpatient services are still suspended.
The hospital is expected to fully resume operations from Saturday.
Meanwhile, tensions persist between the hospital authorities and injured July movement protesters who are currently receiving treatment there.
Six of them are being treated in the hospital’s specialized residential unit. Around 48 others went home for Eid, but they are expected to return within a day or two. Hospital authorities are concerned that further protests could erupt upon their return.
A visit to the hospital at 3pm on Wednesday revealed a silent and inactive environment. A few staff and security personnel were seen on duty at the ground floor, but both outpatient services and regular operations remained closed.
Emergency services on the fourth floor were running, but only a handful of patients were present.
Several nurses and residential doctors, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that many patients and their relatives arrived at the hospital unaware of the suspension.
While most were turned away, some 30–35 critical cases were treated. Normally, the hospital sees a daily footfall of 3,000 to 4,000 people.
What triggered the crisis?
On May 25, during a meeting in the hospital director’s office, four injured July protesters allegedly consumed poison in protest of negligence and inadequate treatment.
The four—Shimul, Maruf, Sagar, and Akhtar Hossain (Abu Taher)—were admitted to Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College Hospital, where they later recovered.
While this incident initially created tension, protests escalated on May 28 when the injured protesters demanded advanced treatment abroad.
On the same day, a clash broke out involving hospital staff, patients, and the protesters over various alleged irregularities.
A three-way scuffle ensued, prompting hospital employees to form a human chain in protest. As a result, all hospital services were suspended, and admitted patients left.
Following this, hospital director Khair Ahmed Chowdhury went on leave, and the responsibility of acting director was assigned to Jane Alam Mridha.
The hospital remained completely shut for nine days. Emergency services resumed on June 6, the day before Eid-ul-Azha.
At that time, authorities informed the injured protesters in the specialized residential unit that they could go home for Eid if they wished. Forty-eight individuals took this offer, but none were formally discharged.
Views from those involved
Nure Alam, one of the injured July protesters currently admitted to the fourth-floor unit, said he was shot by police on July 18 last year in Narayanganj’s Signboard area.
Although he initially received some treatment, he claims negligence followed. He reiterated their demand for treatment abroad and said further decisions would depend on the next steps from the authorities.
Nabila Idris, health representative of the July Foundation, told Bangla Tribune: “Due to lack of proper treatment, many of our members' lives are in danger. They might have recovered faster with treatment abroad.”
She added that a tougher movement may be launched once the Eid holidays end.
Expert committee findings
On June 3, the health ministry formed a four-member expert committee to assess the eye conditions of the injured protesters. The committee was headed by Prof Dr Md Mostak Ahmed, head of the ophthalmology department at Dhaka Medical College.
Members included eye specialists from the Combined Military Hospital, Bangladesh Medical University, and Ispahani Islamia Eye Institute and Hospital.
On June 4, the committee attempted to examine 54 patients at the institute, of whom only 30 consented to be checked. The remaining 24 refused.
In its report issued the same day, the committee concluded that both the previous and ongoing treatment were satisfactory. It recommended that patients could be released and referred to nearby health centres if necessary.
For specific cases, it advised referral to the Combined Military Hospital, Bangladesh Medical University, or Ispahani Hospital, and called for prompt rehabilitation.
Statement from the authorities
Acting Director Jane Alam Mridha told Bangla Tribune that full operations at the institute are expected to resume on June 14.
He added that preparations are in place to deal with any situation that may arise once the injured July protesters return from Eid leave.