Govt to pay for treatment of injured students, citizens

Bangladesh has decided to pay for the treatment of those injured during the violence surrounding the quota reform movement, reports bdnews24.com.

As such, the Health Services Division has directed private medical college hospitals, private hospitals and clinics not to collect bills from them.

A press release on the matter was issued on Saturday.

According to the press release signed by Jahangir Alam, the secretary of the health services division, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, has already formed a committee to investigate the casualties during the anti-government movement.

The committee members are scheduled to meet today (Sunday) to decide their next course of action.

The government will bear the expenses of all the students and citizens who are being treated at government hospitals after being injured during the uprising, says the press release.

The same will apply to private hospitals too.

"Private medical college hospitals, private hospitals and clinics are requested not to collect bills from students who were injured during the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement. If necessary, the government will bear the expenses of the students undergoing treatment in these private hospitals."

According to a preliminary report published by UNHCR, at least 650 people died in the anti-government movement to topple the Awami League.

Many of those injured in police gunfire are still undergoing treatment at various government and private hospitals.

BSS adds: Aiming to ensure better treatment for those injured in the anti-discrimination student movement, separate specialised and dedicated care units will be formed at all government hospitals in the country.

It was decided in a meeting between the coordinators of the anti-discrimination student movement and the authority concerned of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) at Dhaka Medical College and Hospital (DMCH) on Saturday.

In the meeting, it was decided that no one should enter the specialised departments of the hospital except doctors, nurses and legal representatives of the patients as many students and people have been injured seriously and they are undergoing treatment at those departments.

Many patients were suffering from injuries and someone might have risks during the post-operation period, the meeting was told.

In order to stop spread of the diseases, all are asked not to enter the units of the hospital concerned without proper permission.

Additional Director General of DGHS Professor Dr Ahmedul Kabir, DMCH Director Brigadier General Md Asaduzzaman and coordinators of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement Sarjis Alam and Hasnat Abdullah were present, among others.