Physicians in Khulna said they will continue their work abstention until the arrest of the accused policeman for his involvement in assaulting their colleague Dr Sheikh Nishat Abdullah, head of the Burn and Plastic Surgery Department at Shaheed Sheikh Abu Naser Specialised Hospital.
Bangladesh Medical Association (BMA) Khulna President Dr Sheikh Baharul Alam made the announcement on Saturday morning.
He asked: “How can an accused policeman still be in front of the police and can work with the police? Why are the police not arresting him? What is wrong with demanding workplace safety? Doctors have been demanding for a long time seeking safety at this workplace. But there is no solution. Why are their demands not getting importance?”
“Attacks on doctors at work are not new. It has happened before. Earlier, Doctor Rakib also died. Why do these types of incidents repeat? So doctors are now demanding to ensure safety in the workplace. The strike will be withdrawn only if the accused is arrested,” said the Khulna BMA president.
There will be a protest rally. Announcement of more programs may come from a general meeting.
Dr Nishat was allegedly assaulted by Assistant Sub-Inspector Naim, the husband of a female patient, who had been allegedly sexually assaulted by the physician.
Physicians in Khulna on Saturday continued their work abstention for the fourth consecutive day.
It caused immense suffering to hospitalized patients and others who sought medical treatment.
Medicare services came to a halt at all government and private hospitals, except for emergency care, in the district due to the strike.
Amid this suffering, Nagorik Samaj, a Khulna-based organization, said it will form a human chain to protest the suffering of the patients.
On Friday evening, a seven-member DGHS team from Dhaka, led by Additional Director General Ahmedul Kabir, met with BMA Khulna leaders and urged them to withdraw the strike to ease public suffering.
Meanwhile, after the meeting the team said that emergency services are going on, indoor services are going on, and doctors are in the hospital, operations are going on.
General Secretary of Khulna BMA Dr Mehedi Newaz said that there are several programs of doctors. Strike will continue till noon. There will be another meeting with the DGHS delegation at noon.
Aklima Begum, who came to Khulna Medical College Hospital with stroke patient Sajeda Begum, 70, from Koloroa, said that her mother had a stroke. She is also diabetic and has high blood pressure. They have been staying at the hospital for the last four days.
“At this time the senior doctor did not come. The nurses are coming. The condition of my mother is deteriorating. I have been sitting for four days, and I don't know how many more days I will sit.,” she added.
Sheikh Md Faridul Islam, the relative of a patient, said that he went to the Khalishpur clinic with the pregnant woman from Kalia. As there was no doctor there, she was brought to Khulna Medical College Hospital.
“There is no senior doctor. Nurses are taking care of the patients. I don't know when the doctor will come,” said the patient's relative.
On February 25, Dr Sheikh Nishat was physically assaulted allegedly by a patient's relatives including ASI Naim, at a nursing home in Sheikhpara of Khulna city during surgery.
On the other hand, Nusrat Ara Moyna, wife of the cop, held a press conference on Thursday at Khulna Press Club seeking the intervention of the prime minister to resolve the problem and claimed that no incident of attack on the physician and vandalism happened on that night.
“I have video footage of that night which shows no evidence of assault and vandalism,” she claimed.
Moyna also demanded justice for her harassment and the implication of Naim in a false case.
