Khulna wing of Bangladesh Medical Association (BMA) on Wednesday called for a strike in protest of Dr Abdur Rakib Khan's death.
However, hospital emergency services and coronavirus units would be kept out of the strike’s purview.
Rakib, who was a lifelong member of Khulna BMA, was injured in a scuffle with a patient’s relatives at a private hospital and died on Tuesday evening while receiving treatment at the Shaheed Sheikh Abu Naser Specialized Hospital in Khulna.
An emergency meeting and demonstration was held by Khulna BMA doctors at Shahid Dr Milon Circle in Khulna on Wednesday.
The doctors protested Rakib’s murder and sought punishment for his killers, and demanded the suspension of Khulna Sadar police station OC, and vowed to continue protests until their demands were met.
Meanwhile, authorities of local private hospitals and clinics have also expressed solidarity with the steps taken by BMA.
Dr Mehedi Newaz, general secretary of Khulna BMA, confirmed the matter to Dhaka Tribune.
“Many doctors in Khulna are furious over Dr Rakib’s death. The strike will continue until the perpetrators are arrested. However, patients who are admitted in the hospital, corona units and emergency service will be kept out of the purview of the strike,” he told Dhaka Tribune.
He said the doctors in Khulna decided to refrain from providing medical services to outdoor patients until the perpetrators are arrested.
When contacted, Dr Ehteshamul Huq Choudhury, secretary-general of BMA, told Dhaka Tribune that they are holding a meeting over the issue where BMA would come to a decision.
When contacted, Dr Ehteshamul Huq Choudhury, secretary general of BMA, told Dhaka Tribune that they are holding a meeting over the issue where BMA would come to a decision.
Talking to Dhaka Tribune, Dr Ehteshamul Huq Choudhury, secretary general of BMA, said: “We are giving the authorities concerned a 24-hour ultimatum to find and arrest the perpetrators behind this incident.”
“If this doesn’t happen, we will call for fresh protests. We will not attend our duties if we keep on getting assaulted and attacked,” he said, while conveying his full support with the demands and steps made and taken by its Khulna wing.
Expressing his dissatisfaction over the role played by the health authorities in such incidents, he said: “Our health authorities didn’t even say a word while health workers were getting assaulted and attacked in different incidents across the country.
“We will quit our jobs if our demands are not met and will also stop providing telemedicine service,” said Dr Ehteshamul, adding, “However, no matter what, we will not stop providing treatment to Covid-19 patients as well as to those who require emergency medical care.”
Earlier on Tuesday, Dr Rakib, director of Raisa Clinic and Diagnostic Centre in Khulna and principal of Bagerhat Medical Assistants' Training School, breathed his last while being treated for injuries caused by the relatives of a patient at the Shaheed Sheikh Abu Naser Specialised Hospital in the district.
On Monday night, a pregnant woman died after giving birth to a baby at his clinic, leading her relatives to bring up allegations of wrong treatment and later to the scuffle, said Saiful Islam, younger brother of Dr Rakib.
Saiful claimed that some relatives of the patients carried out an attack on his brother at the clinic at 8:50pm on Monday, leaving him critically injured.
He was immediately taken to Gazi Medical College and Hospital and later was shifted to Shaheed Sheikh Abu Naser Specialised Hospital for better treatment.