A tense and volatile situation continues to grip Rangpur Medical College Hospital following an alleged assault on a doctor and subsequent unrest involving the body of a deceased patient. Despite a controversial public apology extracted from the accused, intern doctors have refused to withdraw their ongoing work stoppage, severely disrupting medical services across the facility.
The incident began in the early hours of Saturday when a patient, identified as Nurunahar Begum from the Jummapara area of the city, was admitted to the cardiology unit. She was declared dead shortly after admission, triggering anger and allegations of negligence from her family members. Tensions escalated rapidly when the deceased woman’s younger son, Rifat Hossain, was accused of physically assaulting two on-duty physicians.
In response, intern doctors and medical students launched protests, halting services at the emergency department and other units. Although operations were partially restored later in the day, the situation deteriorated again when the release of the body became a point of contention. Protesters reportedly withheld the corpse, demanding a public apology from the accused individual.
The crisis deepened when Rifat Hossain was brought to the hospital administration building, where he was made to publicly apologise in a humiliating manner, including squatting while holding his ears. The body was subsequently handed over to the family. However, footage of the incident circulated widely on social media, intensifying public debate and criticism over the handling of the matter.
Despite this development, intern doctors resumed a full-scale work stoppage from Sunday morning. Medical students also boycotted classes and examinations in solidarity, further straining hospital operations. Outpatient services and general wards have been particularly affected, with patients reporting long delays and inadequate attention due to staff shortages.
Hospital authorities have acknowledged that emergency services are being maintained in a limited capacity, but admit that the shortage of personnel has significantly hampered patient care.
Timeline of Events
| Time/Day | Event |
|---|---|
| Saturday early morning | Patient admitted to cardiology unit and pronounced dead shortly after |
| Saturday morning | Allegations of negligence raised; doctors reportedly assaulted |
| Saturday midday | Emergency services partially suspended amid protests |
| Afternoon | Body withheld; protesters demand public apology |
| Later Saturday | Accused brought in and made to publicly apologise; body released |
| Sunday morning | Intern doctors begin full work stoppage |
A relative of a patient stated that the absence of intern doctors has caused severe suffering, with many patients unable to receive timely treatment. Meanwhile, intern doctors maintain that their movement will continue until adequate security is ensured within the hospital premises.
The Intern Doctors’ Association has condemned the alleged assault, arguing that no effective administrative action was taken initially, which fuelled their anger. Hospital authorities, however, have described the situation as having spiralled beyond control, while discussions are ongoing with all parties to restore normal services as quickly as possible.