‘Death by Wrong Treatment’: Doctor beaten to death by patient’s relatives in Khulna

A doctor, who was assaulted by a patient's family members on Monday night over the allegation of wrong treatment which led to her death, passed away while undergoing treatment at a hospital in Khulna on Tuesday. 

The deceased, Dr Abdur Rakib Khan (59), was the director of Raisa Clinic and Diagnostic Centre in Khulna and principal of Bagerhat Medical Assistants' Training School.

He breathed his last at 6:20pm at Shaheed Sheikh Abu Nasser Hospital in Khulna, said doctors.

On Sunday, a pregnant Shiuli Begum, a resident of nearby Mohammadnagar area, was admitted to Raisa Clinic. Due to some complications, Dr Rakib and other physicians had to perform a C-section on her in the afternoon, said Saiful Islam, younger brother of Dr Rakib, quoting the doctor's wife Nilufar Rahman Shanta, who is also a physician and a director of the clinic.

At first, the mother and child were doing fine. Later in the night, the woman's condition started deteriorating. On Monday morning, she was recommended to be taken to Khulna Medical College Hospital.

After taking her to KMCH, doctors there advised to take her to the capital. The family hired an ambulance and started the journey around noon. The woman died on the way.

Around 9pm that night, her family members came to the building where the clinic is situated, bringing along Shiuli's body, and brought allegations of wrong treatment against Dr Rakib.

An argument broke out between a family member and Dr Rakib, who lived in the building, when he came down and at one point started beating him up indiscriminately, he added.

The incident was recorded in a CCTV camera. The Daily Star has obtained a copy of the footage.

The doctor was admitted to Gazi Medical College Hospital around 2am. A CT scan in the morning showed that he had brain hemorrhage. From there, he was admitted to the ICU of Abu Nasser Hospital around noon where he died around 6:20pm, said his brother Saiful.

Gazi Mizanur Rahman, president of Bangladesh Private Clinic and Diagnostic Owners' Association in Khulna, said, "Dr Rakib was a senior doctor. At a time when all the clinics were shut, he kept his centre open and helped patients. This was such a tragic incident…"

Saiful filed a case with Khulna Sadar Police Station against four persons, including the patient's husband, Abdul Ali Sheikh. Despite repeated attempts, this correspondent could not get in touch with him.

Police on Tuesday night arrested one Abdur Rahim over the incident. He was later shown arrested in the case.

Aslam Bahar Bulbul, officer-in-charge of the police station, said they made the arrest after scrutinising the video footage. "The accused confessed his involvement and said names of other persons as well," the OC added.

Many locals said the accused are very influential in the area. "We are trying our best to arrest them," said the OC.

Contacted, Dr Sheikh Baharul Alom, president of Bangladesh Medical Association in Khulna, said they have decided to close all the medical institutions except the emergency department at KMCH and ones for treating Covid-19 patients until the accused are arrested.

Meanwhile, a pall of gloom has descended in the area following the death of Dr Rakib.

His wife, two children, relatives, friends and well-wishers are saddened beyond consolation and have demanded that the authorities arrest the perpetrators immediately.

Yesterday, members of BMA protested the incident by forming a human chain in front of BMA Bhaban at Saat Rasta Mor in the city.