Doctors attack scribes again

At least 10 journalists were injured when doctors of Rajshahi Medical College Hospital (RMCH) attacked them with iron rods and wooden sticks late on Sunday. Sub-Inspector Mizanur Rahman, in-charge of the hospital’s Police booth, said the journalists were attacked around 10:30pm on Sunday when they were trying to gather information for a report. Boalia Police Station Officer-in-Charge Saidur Rahman Bhuiyan was removed the same night after journalists alleged that the police had been a spectator during the attack. Eye-witnesses said the relatives of a patient at Ward No. 13 at RMCH was involved in a scuffle with an intern doctor around 9:30pm. They alleged the patient was not being treated properly. As the situation escalated, Maasranga Television photo journalist Masud Rana went to the hospital to report the incident. Interns at the hospital attacked him. Later a group of angry interns tried to enter the Ward No. 13, but the police locked out the room with the patients inside. More journalists arrived and they found the doctors trying to break the lock. SI Mizanur Rahman said. “When the journalists tried to film that, the interns attacked the reporters.” Channel 24 photo journalist Raihan and Jamuna Television photo journalist Russel Mahmud were seriously injured. They were both admitted to a private hospital. Russel was later sent to Dhaka as his condition deteriorated. Channel 24 reporter Abran Shain said the doctors, after attacking Raihan and Russel, also charged at other journalists who tried to defend them, according to bdnews24.com.