It's 'killing by negligence'

Teachers and students of Jahangirnagar University yesterday demanded cancellation of license of the real estate company responsible for the accident causing the death of first-year philosophy student Mahmud Bin Ashraf Pranto, and accused three hospitals of negligence .

The 21-year-old died from injuries after an iron bar fell on him from an under-construction building in Dhanmondi on Friday. Shanta Holdings Ltd, the construction company, did not keep any metal safety canopy around the building.

Speaking at a press conference at the philosophy department, the teachers spoke against “negligence” of the three hospitals where Pranto was taken immediately after the accident.

Chairperson of the department Prof Mostofa Nazmul Mansur Tamal said Pranto was denied admission at Medinova Diagnostic Centre. Then he was taken to Japan Bangladesh Friendship Hospital and Bangladesh Medical College Hospital, but both referred him elsewhere. “He was denied proper care at the hospitals. They showed negligence,” he said.

Pranto was eventually taken to Dhaka Medical College Hospital where he was declared dead.

Quoting the on-duty doctor, Prof Tamal said Pranto “died due to excessive bleeding”. “It's not a normal death. It's simply a killing. The negligence of the developer company and the hospitals are to blame for this killing.”

The university administration and the victim's family may jointly sue the developer company and the hospitals soon, said Prof Tamal.

Earlier, more than 250 teachers and students took part in a mourning procession parading the campus streets.

Meanwhile, Bangladesh Chhatra Union, Sangskritik Jote, and Chhatra Front expressed solidarity with the demands raised at the press conference, while Meherpur District Students Association formed a human chain at the university's Central Shaheed Minar.