Published : 05 Oct 2026, 01:30 PM
Updated : 05 Oct 2026, 01:29 PM
Relatives of a teenage patient and authorities of Islami Bank Hospital have been involved in a heated altercation following the girl's death at the facility in Dhaka's Motijheel.
Both the hospital authorities and the family of the 13-year-old lodged complaints with Shahjahanpur Police Station over the incident on Sunday night, police said. Neither complaint had been recorded as a case as of Monday morning.
"Complaints were filed with the police station last night by both the authorities and the patient's relatives," Shahjahanpur Police Station chief Amirul Islam told bdnews24.com.
"We are examining the complaints from both sides. A decision will be taken after discussing the matter with the deputy commissioner."
The girl's relatives have alleged medical negligence, saying she died because doctors failed to operate on her in time after her appendix ruptured.
The hospital authorities, however, say she was already in a critical condition when she was brought to the facility.
According to both sides, the girl was taken to Islami Bank Hospital with severe abdominal pain on Friday evening.
An ultrasound performed on the advice of a doctor in the emergency department found that her appendix had ruptured.
Preparations were subsequently made for surgery, but she died on Saturday morning before she could be taken to the operating theatre.
Abul Kalam Azad, an administrative officer at the hospital, said the girl had been admitted with appendicitis and kept under observation.
"She died while being taken to the ward," he said. "After her death, the relatives took the body away for burial as normal.
"After the body was taken away, some people became agitated and returned to the hospital, alleging medical negligence and demanding Tk 1 million in compensation."
Abul Kalam said they were advised to have another doctor examine the patient's files and medical records if they had concerns about her treatment, or to pursue legal action.
"Instead of taking the legal route, they continued to demand money unethically and tried to hold the hospital hostage by preventing doctors and staff from leaving," he alleged.
Describing the confrontation on Sunday night, Abul Kalam said he arrived for the night shift around 10pm and asked the group to move away from the emergency department.
"They suddenly attacked me, grabbed me by the collar and began beating me," he said.
"They then went to the second floor of the hospital and caused extensive damage, including smashing glass. Police later arrived and brought the situation under control."
Abul Kalam claimed that the hospital authorities had filed a "case" over the incident.
Police, however, said both sides had lodged complaints and that neither had been recorded as a case as of Monday morning.
The girl's cousin Shahriar Sabuj rejected the allegation that the relatives had demanded money.
"We were present at the discussions with the hospital authorities as close relatives of the victim," he said.
"The allegation that we demanded Tk 1 million is completely baseless. In fact, hospital employees were the first to assault us."
Sabuj called for CCTV footage from the hospital to be reviewed.
"We did not demand any money. Rather, the hospital authorities offered us jobs and financial assistance to cover up the medical negligence," he alleged.
"We have the necessary evidence."
Sabuj also denied allegations that he had invoked a political affiliation or had links to Jubo Dal.
"I am in no way involved in Jubo Dal politics," he said.
"There is a deliberate attempt to drag the party's name into this and give the incident a political dimension. The CCTV footage will make the truth clear — whether any political identity was invoked or where any money was demanded."
Abul Kalam denied that the hospital had offered jobs to Sabuj or members of the girl's family.
"No, that's false," he said.
Police said they were examining the allegations made by both sides.
