At least 15 people were injured in a clash between relatives of a patient and intern doctors at the emergency department of Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College Hospital on Tuesday night, prompting intern doctors to launch an indefinite strike and medical students to announce an indefinite academic shutdown.
The clash took place between 12:45am and 1:30am in and outside the hospital's emergency department. Additional police have since been deployed to prevent further unrest.
Intern doctor Dr Anan said six intern doctors and five medical students were injured in the attack, with four to five of them in critical condition. They are receiving treatment at the hospital. Three people from the other side are also being treated at the hospital's casualty unit.
He said intern doctors would continue their indefinite work stoppage in protest over the attack. Although Sylhet Divisional Commissioner Md Mashiur Rahman visited the hospital and discussions were held over withdrawing the strike, it remained in effect as of 1:45pm.
According to witnesses, relatives of a sick child brought the patient to the emergency department around 12:30am. An argument reportedly broke out after they accused an intern doctor on duty of negligence. The altercation later escalated into a physical confrontation.
As tensions grew, other intern doctors and medical students gathered at the scene, leading to a wider clash.
Medical students alleged that people accompanying the patient brought additional individuals from outside the hospital, who assaulted the intern doctor on duty. They claimed the violence intensified after other interns and students rushed to the scene.
Those injured include intern doctors Taspianul Haque and Reza Niloy, medical student Abrar Hossain, Zahid from the city's Baluchar area, and several relatives of the patient. All received treatment at the hospital.
Police intervened to bring the situation under control, although tensions remained high. Some medical students were seen carrying sticks during the unrest.
Sylhet Kotwali Police Station Officer-in-Charge Khan Mainul Zakir said additional police had been deployed to prevent any further untoward incidents.
"The incident is being investigated to determine the actual cause and identify those responsible," he said.
In a statement issued around 2:30am, the Osmani Medical College Hospital Intern Doctors Forum demanded the immediate arrest and punishment of those involved in the attack. The forum announced an indefinite suspension of all medical services by intern doctors until their demands are met.
General students of Osmani Medical College also announced an indefinite academic shutdown in solidarity with the interns.
