Vandalism and an assault on a doctor broke out at a 50-bed upazila health complex in Kushtia’s Mirpur, centred on the death of a child by drowning, injuring two hospital staff. The incident occurred on Friday (September 18) morning at Mirpur upazila health complex.
It is learned that Rafi, 3, son of Sabbir Hossain of Nawdapara village in the upazila’s Fulbaria union, drowned, and was rescued and rushed by relatives to the upazila health complex in critical condition. There, the on-duty medical officer examined the child and declared him dead. On hearing the news, the child’s relatives and some local people entered the doctor’s room and began behaving abusively, at one point vandalising the medical officer’s room, numbered 11, along with various other parts of the hospital.
Sub-assistant medical officer Abdus Samad, emergency department helper Bijoy Kumar, and Ansar member Jasim Sarkar were injured in the incident. Mirpur police station’s OC (investigation), Abdul Aziz, confirmed the incident, saying: “I am at the scene. The situation is now normal. The matter will be investigated and legal action taken.”
Dr Jannatul Riya, a doctor at the upazila health complex, said that while the grief of losing a loved one deserves sympathy, attacks and vandalism at a hospital’s emergency service centre seriously disrupt medical care.