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Published : 28 May 2025, 03:35 PM
A clash has occurred between staff of the National Institute of Ophthalmology and Hospital (NIOH) in Dhaka and the relatives of patients injured in the July Uprising, as well as other patients seeking treatment.
A doctor at the hospital said those injured in the mass uprising carried out an attack on the residential quarters of physicians and staff on Wednesday and chanted slogans demanding punishment for the employees.
Dhaka Metropolitan Police’s Additional Deputy Commissioner (Tejgaon) Alamgir Kabir told bdnews24.com that the situation is currently “under control”.
The clash took place a day after the hospital director was besieged by protesters following suicide attempts by several July Uprising survivors.
The hospital staff went on strike early on Wednesday demanding additional security in response to the protest and the attempted suicides.
The July injured clashed with the hospital staff around 10am. Later, relatives of patients visiting the outpatient department joined in.
The hospital’s director, Dr Khair Ahmed Choudhury, told bdnews24.com: “The situation in the hospital has turned into a mess. They (the July injured) first attacked the employees and even vandalised the staff quarters. After Tuesday’s events, the staff have been feeling insecure, which led to the strike.”
Hillol, one of the injured in the July movement who gave a single name, told bdnews24.com: “The hospital staff have attacked the public and us. That’s all I can say at the moment.”
Another doctor from the scene told bdnews24.com around 12:45pm that the clash with the July injured broke out because the staff and nurses, who were on strike, were not providing treatment.
However, police personnel arrived at the hospital around 11:30am.
The doctor said that even after police arrived, they failed to bring the situation under control.
“Later, around 12:30pm, Coast Guard members intervened.”
The hospital's Acting Director Dr Zan-E-Alam told bdnews24.com around 2pm: “The skirmish began around 11am. During the unrest, many of our doctors and staff were injured in attacks by the July injured and the relatives of patients. Around 1:30pm, the army arrived and restored order. Right now, they are working to rescue doctors, nurses and staff who have been trapped in parts of the hospital. Medical services at the hospital have been suspended.”
WHAT HAPPENED TWO DAYS AGO
On Tuesday, a group of injured in the July movement attempted suicide outside the director’s office at the institute as they pushed for multiple demands. During this time, they held the director captive in his office for about an hour and a half. The situation eased after army personnel arrived.
The hospital’s director, Dr Khair, told bdnews24.com on Tuesday that a group of July movement injured came to his office around 2:15pm. Among them were four who had attempted suicide by by ingesting poison and had been hospitalised.
“Those four who tried to commit suicide had been receiving treatment at Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College Hospital. They left the hospital on Tuesday in that condition and came here. Several other injured who had been undergoing treatment at the hospital joined them.
“There were a lot of conflicts among them, with numerous accusations against each other. Around 40 to 50 of them came into my room. They were causing a commotion and blaming one another—saying that a certain group had collected donations but hadn’t shared with them.”
Dr Khair said the injured also accused him of working in favour of one faction. When the situation deteriorated, he informed law-enforcing agencies of the matter.
One of the July injured present at the scene told bdnews24.com: “Those who attempted suicide that day are the ones who came to the director’s office. While they were addressing various issues, they again attempted suicide. They also brought petrol with them.”
DMP’s Tejgaon Division Deputy Commissioner Ibne Mizan told bdnews24.com, “They were preparing to set themselves on fire using kerosene and petrol. We intervened and took the fuel away from them. Later, the army arrived and collectively persuaded them to leave.”
Earlier, on Sunday, the NIOH authorities said that four people injured in the July Uprising had attempted to commit suicide by ingesting poison.
Sher-e-Bangla Nagar Police Station chief Imamul Haque said they were immediately taken to Suhrawardy Medical College Hospital after the incident.
Quoting the doctor, he said: “The hospital authorities didn’t inform us of anything directly. We contacted them after hearing about it. The injured are now out of danger.”
The individuals who ingested the poison have been identified as Akhtar Hossain, Shimul, Maruf and Sagar.
Ibne Mizan said, “They were taken to Suhrawardy Hospital and were treated there. They are currently at the hospital and doing well.”
Kamal Akbar, the newly appointed CEO of the July Foundation, was present at the institute at the time of the incident, which occurred while he was having a meeting with the hospital director.
The four reportedly tried to speak with the CEO but were asked to wait until he had finished his discussion with hospital officials.
The suicide attempts followed shortly after.
Dr Khair said one of the individuals had previously received medical treatment in Singapore, and suggested that the group may be struggling with mental health issues.
“Those who attempt suicide are not mentally well,” he said, adding that the act may have been a form of protest intended to draw the government's attention or influence the new leadership at the July Foundation.
