Comilla district administration and health department have shut down an unauthorized psychiatric clinic after finding evidence of torturing patients and human rights violations.
Farid Ahmad, a resident of Madhyapara area under Durgapur union in Sadar upazila, set up the clinic at his house and was running the business for months.
Acting on a tip-off, the district administration and the health department conducted a joint drive at the house on Sunday afternoon based on allegations made by locals.
A mobile court led by Executive Magistrate Mazharul Islam fined the owner of the clinic Tk20,000 for cheating patients in the name of psychiatric treatment.
The court also ordered him to hand over the patients to their guardians within seven days.
Mazharul said: "There were allegations that the patients were chained and physically abused in this so-called clinic. They had to stay here in a filthy and unhygienic condition amid extreme human rights violations. They were also forced to take a bath in the pond even in severe cold.
"We found the allegations true during the drive," he added.
