A fatal altercation between two patients occurred within the male ward of Pabna Mental Hospital, the only specialised psychiatric institution in the country. The confrontation resulted in the death of one patient.
Circumstances of the Incident
The incident took place during the early hours of 2 June inside Ward No. 6, a facility designated for high-risk patients. Allegations have emerged suggesting that the hospital administration initially attempted to suppress information regarding the altercation. However, the matter became public on Monday evening (8 June), causing significant concern regarding the security protocols and management of the facility. Expressions of grievance have been raised by the relatives of the patients and concerned stakeholders.
According to institutional and police records, both individuals involved were admitted to the high-risk ward on 2 June. The patients were identified as Nazmul Islam, aged 28, a diagnosed schizophrenia patient from Khojakhali village in the Ullapara Upazila of Sirajganj, and Inzamul Haque, aged 26, from Rajanagar village in Jhenaidah. At approximately 03:00, a sudden physical confrontation erupted between them. During the altercation, Inzamul Haque sustained severe head trauma and died at the scene. Nazmul Islam also suffered serious injuries during the fight.
Legal Action and Family Grievances
Following the death, Ejazul Haque, the brother of the deceased, lodged a formal murder case at the Pabna Sadar Police Station on 33 June. Questioning the hospital’s management, Ejazul Haque stated: “The person who fought with my brother is also a mental patient. How could they keep two such patients together? When they were fighting, why was no one able to stop them?”
Conversely, Abdul Malek, the father of Nazmul Islam, levelled allegations against the hospital staff, asserting that employees assaulted his son following the incident, resulting in broken limbs.
The table below outlines the specific profiles of the individuals involved and the institutional context of the event:
| Incident Parameter | Details and Verified Information |
| Institution | Pabna Mental Hospital (Male Ward No. 6 – High-Risk Unit) |
| Deceased Patient | Inzamul Haque, Age 26 (Resident of Rajanagar, Jhenaidah) |
| Accused Patient | Nazmul Islam, Age 28 (Resident of Khojakhali, Sirajganj) |
| Medical Condition | Both patients diagnosed with Schizophrenia |
| Date and Time | 2 June, at approximately 03:00 |
| Legal Action | Case filed on 3 June at Pabna Sadar Police Station |
| Complainant | Ejazul Haque (Brother of the deceased) |
Institutional Limitations and Administrative Responses
The Nursing Superintendent of the hospital, Rekha Akhter, highlighted the operational difficulties faced by the medical staff, noting that psychiatric patients frequently appear stable before exhibiting sudden, highly violent behaviour. She stated that under such spontaneous conditions, it is impossible for a limited number of nurses to physically restrain aggressive patients. Furthermore, she disclosed that the hospital suffers from an acute shortage of male ward attendants, and staff members are neither provided with specialised training for handling violent patients nor granted any risk allowance.
The Director of Pabna Mental Hospital, Dr Shafkat Wahid, acknowledged the fatality and confirmed that both patients had undergone psychiatric treatment at the facility on prior occasions. He noted that because the confrontation occurred in the middle of the night, the staff did not immediately discover the situation.
Tarikul Islam, the Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Pabna Sadar Police Station, stated that because the accused individual is a certified mental patient, standard procedures require specialized judicial oversight. Following the registration of the case, the police dispatched formal communications to the relevant court and the mental hospital authorities. Subsequent legal actions will be determined upon receiving specific directives and procedural guidance from these entities.