Emergency services at DMCH resume

Emergency services at the Dhaka Medical College and Hospital (DMCH) have resumed after remaining suspended for three and a half hours.

Gate of the emergency department was reopened around 4:30pm on Tuesday after authorities promised action against Dhaka University (DU) students who clashed with intern doctors, said DMCH police outpost's inspector Mozammel Haque.

DMCH Director Brig Gen Mustafizur Rahman, Bangladesh Medical Association leaders and DU Proctor Prof Amzad Ali held a meeting, he said.

The proctor assured the DMCH authorities that action would be taken against the students involved in the clash.

Earlier in the day, the intern doctors assaulted two DU students over using an elevator at the hospital.

Later, the students gathered in greater numbers and vandalised the emergency department.

Services at the emergency department stopped around 1pm as the intern doctors locked its gate to protest against the assault.

Police official Haque said a few students of DU's Shahidullah Hall came to the hospital to visit the mother of their classmate.

He said the students were activists of ruling Awami League's student front Bangladesh Chhatra League.

"Two Chattra League activists Ashiqul and Jasim boarded an elevator meant for doctors around 11:30am that led to a quarrel with the intern doctors. At one stage, the interns beat up the students," said inspector Haque.

The hospital's security guards rescued the students. They received primary treatment at the hospital.