Bangladesh: Khulna doctors and KU students at loggerheads over assault on intern

Dhaka, July 7, 2014 (New Age): The leaders of Bangladesh Medical Association Sunday threatened to extend their strike to an indefinite period if police failed to arrest the Khulna University students behind the assault on intern doctor Tanvir Ahmed Bappa on July 2. Meanwhile, Khulna University students on the other demanded the case filed against their fellow students be withdrawn and compensation be given to the family of the deceased student, who had allegedly died because of ‘negligence’ of the intern. The central vice president of Bangladesh Medical Association Sheikh Baharul Alam, while addressing a press conference at Khulna Press Club, demanded immediate arrest of students of Khulna University who assaulted the doctor and also vandalised Gazi Medical College Hospital. Alam said that physicians of private-owned hospitals, clinics, diagnostic centers and laboratories of Khulna will continue their strike for an indefinite period if the government does not ensure security of doctors and health workers. Gazi Medical College Hospital superintendent, Banga Kamol Basu, lodged a FIR on Friday evening with Sonadanga police station accusing 15 students and 200 unnamed others for kidnapping and assaulting Tanvir and vandalising the emergency ward of the hospital. Earlier, a student of Khulna University, Amit Roy, who was injured in a road accident Wednesday morning, was allegedly refused treatment by the intern in question Tanvir Ahmed Bappa. Roy succumbed to his injuries while on way to Dhaka for better treatment. The angry KU students later beat up Tanvir on campus after abducting him from the emergency ward of privately-owned Gazi Medical College Hospital Thursday midnight. Tanvir was rescued by police from a room of the university early morning Friday. Khulna units of BMA and Diagnostic Owners’ Association announced the two–day strike starting Saturday, keeping all private hospitals, clinics and diagnostic centers shut. Meanwhile, students of the Fine Arts Institute of Khulna University demanded withdrawal of the case filed by the superintendent of hospital. They also demanded arrest of the driver of Town Service bus who allegedly injured and killed Roy, as well as compensation for Roy’s family to be given by Gazi Medical College Hospital authorities, as ‘he died due to their negligence.’ Sujon Ahmed, a student of first year of the Fine Arts Institute of Khulna University, made the demands while addressing a press conference at the university auditorium Sunday.