A patient’s death at Rangpur Medical College Hospital triggered chaos on Saturday after relatives allegedly assaulted three doctors, prompting a doctors’ protest and suspension of emergency services.
According to hospital authorities, police and family members, Nurjahan Begum, 55, wife of Mahbub Rahman of New Jummapara in Rangpur city, died around 4:00 am while undergoing treatment in the hospital’s Cardiology Department. Her relatives accused doctors of negligence and claimed she had been left without proper treatment.
Hospital officials alleged that following the death, several relatives attacked Assistant Registrar Dr. Rakibul Hasan and intern doctors Dr Rifat and Dr Naim, leaving them injured.
In protest, intern doctors and medical students launched demonstrations demanding legal action against those responsible and an apology to the injured physicians. Protesters gathered outside the hospital morgue and later locked the Emergency Department, effectively suspending emergency medical services.
The demonstrators also blocked the release of Nurjahan Begum’s body, insisting that the alleged attacker be brought before them. Multiple attempts by family members to retrieve the body failed despite intervention by Hospital Director Brigadier General Ashikur Rahman.
Relatives of the deceased denied physically assaulting the doctors, claiming only a verbal altercation had occurred. They also reiterated allegations of medical negligence.
The standoff ended at around 3:30 pm when the deceased’s son, Mithu, arrived at the hospital, expressed regret over the incident, and met the protesters’ demands. The body was subsequently handed over to the family after being held at the morgue for approximately 11 hours. Hospital authorities said the situation is now under control.