Protest over RU student’s death: RMCH intern doctors go on strike

Intern doctors at Rajshahi Medical College Hospital went on indefinite strike early today protesting attacks and vandalism in the hospital premises by students of Rajshahi University over death of their classmate.

"The intern doctors left the hospital around 12:00am in protest of last night's attack and vandalism over the RU student's death. They haven't returned to work yet," said Brig Gen Shamim Yazdani, director of RMCH.

Meanwhile, patients and attendants were suffering in want of treatment amid absence of intern doctors.

KGM Shahriar, a fourth-year student of marketing department of RU, was injured after falling from the third floor of his residential hall on the night of Wednesday (October 18, 2022). He died while undergoing treatment at RMCH around 9pm last night (October 19, 2022).

Classmates of Shahriar's started protesting alleging negligence in the treatment. Some intern doctors and hospital staff allegedly beat up the protesting students elevating the situation.

RU students then vandalised some hospital equipment and flower pots. Their protest continued till 2:00am. Later, they returned to the campus on the assurance of justice from the university administration.

However, the hospital's director Shamim Yazdani denied the allegations of negligence in treatment. He claimed that the student died on the way to the hospital ward from the emergency department.

"The doctors did not get a chance to treat him. It's sad for us too," he said.

Meanwhile, a six-member inquiry committee was formed to investigate the incident. Rajshahi Medical College Principal Professor Nowshad Ali has been made the head of the committee.

The committee has been asked to submit its report within next three days.