RAJSHAHI, Apr 21 (UNB): At least 10 local journalists sustained injuries in an attack on Sunday night allegedly by intern doctors at Rajshahi Medical College Hospital (RMCH) while they were on duty to cover the incident of a clash between doctors and relatives of a patient who died in the hospital.
The attackers also vandalised two cameras after snatching those from the possession of the journalists at that time.
Witnesses said some angry relatives of a patient clashed with some interns on duty at the ward no. 13 of the hospital around 10:30pm after the patient had died at that night, alleging negligence of duty by the attending doctors.
Later, a group of interns gathered in front of the ward no. 13 and at one stage they attacked the relatives of the patient.
When a reporter, Abrar Shair, of Channel 24, along with cameraman Abu Raihan went to the spot to cover the incident, the doctors swooped on them, leaving them injured.
The attackers vandalised a camera and confined TV reporter Abrar Shair to the ward at that time.
After hearing the news of confinement of the journalist, some journalists, aided by police, entered the hospital ward, and then the interns launched another attack on the journalists, leaving nine more of them, including Jamuna TV cameraman Russell, injured.
Later, additional police members rushed to the spot and rescued reporter Abrar Shair from the doctor's confinement.
Critically injured, the two cameramen-Raihan and Russell-were admitted to a city hospital, from where Russell was referred to Dhaka as his condition deteriorated.
The rest were given first aid.
Sub-inspector Mizanur Rahman of RMCH police camp confirmed the incident.
Meanwhile, officer-in-charge (OC) of Boalia police station Saidur Rahman was closed temporally to the district police line on allegation of neglecting duty during the incident.
On the other hand, medical services at the hospital remained suspended as the interns went on work abstention although they did not give any formal announcement of it.
Bdnews24.com adds: Health and Family Welfare Minister Mohammad Nasim has warned of action against striking doctors.
At an event at the Rajarbagh Central Police Hospital on Monday, he said that the government did not support the strike.
His comments came at a time when doctors at the capital's Mitford Hospital and RMCH were on strike.
A BSS report adds: The RMCH authority has formed a probe body to investigate the incident of attack on the journalists.
The committee headed by RMCH Director Brig Gen AKM Nasir Uddin has been asked to submit its report within next seven days. Other members of the committee are: Principal of Rajshahi Medical College Prof Dr Khandaker Abu Raihan, Surgery Department Head Dr Momen, Medicine Department Head Dr Azizul Haque and representatives of Divisional Commissioner, Deputy Commissioner and RMP Commissioner.
The decision was taken at an emergency meeting of the hospital management committee held with its chairman Fazley Hossain Badsha, MP, in the chair Monday.
