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The ticket counters now being attended while doctors are available
Published : 10 Mar 2025, 04:10 PM
Emergency services at the National Institute of Traumatology and Orthopaedic Rehabilitation, commonly known as Pangu Hospital, have resumed six hours after medical staff clashed with injured July Uprising protesters.
The pause in emergency services forced distress among those seeking treatment in the hospital after the clash occurred around 11:30am on Monday.
The staff resumed attending ticket counters after 5:30pm as doctors began checking patients.
A member of the hospital staff, who asked not to be named, said they had been in dispute with the students admitted there for several days.
The alleged assault of an employee of the hospital’s blood bank, identified by a single name - Rafique, exacerbated the conflict on Sunday night.
On Monday, members of the hospital staff launched a work stoppage to protest and took position in front of the hospital.
The staff member claimed they were “attacked” during the demonstration.
An injured protester of the Uprising, Md Mamun, said he was wounded in front of Ashulia Police Station on Aug 5 and was admitted to the hospital.
Mamun claimed the hospital was run by a syndicate of brokers.
A group of hospital staff and brokers “attacked” his fellow protesters who had spoken up against the issue while seeking physiotherapy around 10am on Monday, he said.
In an effort to regain control over the situation, police took up positions at the main gate of the hospital while army personnel were inside as the medical staff left their stations.
After the clash, attendees of the ticket counters of the emergency division also left their stations.
Some people seeking treatment reported that they had been able to buy tickets, but no one was able to see the doctors.
Hridoy, a man seeking treatment identified by a single name, was involved in an accident in the morning and was not attended to in the emergency.
Md Abbas, who arrived with Hridoy, said: “The patient was left here in this state for two hours. He’s been screaming in pain, but no one is attending him.”
A family from Narsingdi brought their two-year child to the hospital.
A member of the family, Md Yasin, said: “It’s been almost three hours, but there’s no treatment. The child falls asleep crying and wakes up weeping. There’s not a single doctor or staff member in the hospital.”
When contacted, Abul Kenan, a director of the hospital, said: “I’m at a meeting now. The commanding officer of the army and others are there. I’ll speak to you later.”
