Healthcare services at the National Institute of Ophthalmology and Hospital have remained suspended for the past four days, following a clash between hospital staff and injured participants of the July uprising, leaving patients and their families in dire straits.
On Saturday, the hospital gates remained closed, forcing many patients, especially those travelling from outside Dhaka, to return home without treatment.
Authorities have yet to provide any indication of when services will resume.
Although the altercation took place on Wednesday, hospital authorities have continued to withhold medical services since then.
A visit to the hospital revealed patients arriving from various parts of the country, only to find the gates locked. Left with no alternative, many waited briefly outside before leaving in disappointment.
The situation has been especially difficult for those already under treatment.
Monir, a July uprising protester, shared his ordeal: “What can I do, brother? Who do I even talk to? The hospital has been shut for four days, not just treatment, they’ve even stopped giving us food. So I had to return home.”
Dr Sanjoy Kumar, a hospital consultant, said: “None of us are attending the hospital on the instructions of our acting director, Zan-E-Alam Mridha. Once the situation normalizes, we will return to service under his direction.”
He added: “On May 28, those injured in the July uprising expressed dissatisfaction with their treatment and eventually got into a clash with our staff. Services were ongoing on that day, but everything has been completely shut since May 29.”
Repeated attempts to reach acting director Zan-E-Alam by phone were unsuccessful.
He, however, told the media earlier: “We have contacted the relevant departments to help stabilize the situation. Until adequate security is ensured, doctors and nurses are unwilling to return to work. We have not received any assurances from higher authorities in this regard.”
He said efforts are underway to resume services as soon as possible, but stressed the need for caution, saying: “We must also remain alert to avoid any untoward incidents.”
The unrest began on Wednesday, when injured July uprising protesters attacked hospital staff over alleged medical negligence. Around 15 hospital personnel, including doctors, were injured in the clash.
Following the attack, both doctors and staff vacated the premises, halting all services.
Earlier, on Sunday, four July uprising protesters who were receiving treatment at the hospital reportedly consumed poison, alleging that no effective measures were being taken for proper medical care or rehabilitation.
The situation escalated further on Tuesday, when the protesters confined the hospital director to his office.
He was rescued more than an hour later with the help of the army.
In response, hospital employees began a work stoppage on Wednesday morning, demanding increased security.
The following clash with the protesters led to the ongoing suspension of medical services.
