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Published : 14 May 2014, 03:14 PM
The forum issued the ultimatum when they met State Minister for Health Zahid Maleque on Wednesday.
Earlier the health reporters formed a human chain in front of the National Press Club to protest the assault.
A group of doctors at ZH Sikder Women’s Medical College and Hospital manhandled Prothom Alo Special Correspondent Shishir Morol confining him at the hospital on Tuesday.
Morol was investigating into the designation of Dr Mohammad Safiul Azam as he had information and evidence that the doctor wrote ‘associate professor’ in one place and ‘professor’ in another place of his practice.
The Health Reoprters’ Forum submitted a memorandum to the state minister.
Apart from the arrest of the doctors they also demanded a law to put an end to strike by doctors and withdrawal of restrictions on reporters to enter the hospitals.
The state minister expressed regret over the incident and said such an attack was unexpected.
There is a law to prevent this kind of incident, he said, adding that measures would be taken in accordance with the law.
Maleque also urged the journalists to make sure that patients were not troubled during news-gathering.
Bangladesh Medical and Dental Council registrar Zahedul Haque Bosunia, who was present at the Secretariat, told reporters they had given a letter to the private hospital’s principal asking for an explanation for Tuesday’s incident.
Incidents of attack on reporters have increased recently in hospitals.
Doctors at the Rajshashi Medical College and Hospital assaulted journalists a few weeks ago.
Similar incidents took place in the Dhaka Medical College and Hospital and Sir Salimullah Medical College and Hospital.
Bangladesh Medical Association at a news conference on Monday blamed journalists for the incidents.
They observed an hour-long work stoppage on Wednesday and announced that specialists would not see patients for two hours at their chambers on Thursday.
