Medical services at the National Institute of Ophthalmology & Hospital have been suspended for four consecutive days following a violent altercation between hospital staff and individuals injured during the July Uprising.
The disruption has severely impacted patients, especially those traveling from outside Dhaka, many of whom were forced to return home without treatment.
The suspension began after hospital staff launched a strike on Wednesday morning, demanding enhanced security in response to the confrontation.
The clash escalated when relatives of patients joined the unrest. Army personnel were deployed to control the situation, which remained tense throughout the day.
All outpatient and inpatient services have been halted since Wednesday. Patients who arrived on Saturday were met with locked gates.
Among them were families who had traveled long distances, incurring significant expenses, only to find the hospital closed.
Several urgent cases, including a child with an eye injury and a girl scheduled for surgery, had to be redirected to other facilities.
Many expressed deep concern over the potential health risks caused by the delay in treatment.
Hospital staff reported feeling unsafe following Wednesday’s events, during which some doctors and nurses were injured.
The tension escalated when a group of individuals from the July Uprising allegedly held the hospital director hostage for over an hour, demanding referral letters for overseas treatment.
There were also incidents of suicide attempts involving the ingestion of poison and threats of self-immolation using petrol and kerosene.
In response, staff initiated a work stoppage to demand better security. Discussions are ongoing between both parties, and efforts are being made to reach a resolution.
A list of specific hospital staff members has reportedly been presented as part of the demands by the injured group, who insist that others are not being prevented from working.
Authorities are working with the health ministry to restore normalcy at the hospital.
