17 injured as students, police clash

At least 17 people sustained injuries when students of Gonoshasthaya Samaj Vittik Medical College and Gono Bishwabidyalay clashed with police in Savar yesterday after the law enforcers intervened in their demonstration.
The students blockaded the Dhaka-Aricha highway for the second consecutive day yesterday following the death of one of the college hospital’s doctor in Patuakhali on Sunday. Police also picked up 15 students in this connection.
According to witnesses, several hundred agitating students formed a human chain in front of the hospital gate blocking the highway. When police charged baton to disperse the students, the agitators retaliated by pelting the law enforcers with stones and brick pieces. The clash left at least 10 injured.
The students then left the area, but a short time later, they again blockaded the highway at Nabinagar and vandalised over six vehicles there. Police charged baton there as well leading to another clash that left seven people injured.
The students had also vandalised the hospital on Monday forcing over 650 patients to flee. The hospital administration filed a case in this regard accusing six named students and over hundred unnamed others.
The agitating students of the two institutions, which are under Gonoshasthaya Kendra, began demonstrating on
Monday claiming that hospital management was negligent in ensuring safety of the doctor. They also urged the authorities concerned to change a rule of the Kendra that makes it mandatory for every student and doctor to visit rural areas.
The Kendra had sent Dr Maklukur Rahman Murad, the victim, along with a 56-member medical team to one of its sub-centres in Golachipa of Patuakhali on Thursday.
Murad went missing on Friday and his body was found floating on a pond beside the sub-centre on Sunday.