Docs denied hotel stay

Six doctors treating Covid-19 patients were not allowed on Monday night into a Khulna hotel where they were supposed to stay as per an arrangement made by the district administration.

When the doctors, from Khulna Medical College  Hospital, arrived at Hotel Millennium after duty, the hotel  authorities refused to let them in, said KMCH Director Dr Munshi Reza Sekander.

"These six doctors waited  outside the hotel from 6:00pm to 10:00pm but they were not allowed in.  They tried to contact the hotel authorities but their phone calls went  unanswered," he said.

After discussing with the authorities of four local hotels -- the CSS Ava Center, Hotel Royal, Hotel Ambassador, and Hotel Millennium -- the district administration arranged for KMCH doctors and nurses to stay at the Hotel Millennium while on duty, and at any of the other three while in quarantine. All the hotel owners had agreed to this, said the KMCH director.

As per the arrangement, these six doctors were supposed to stay at Hotel Millennium while working their 10-day shifts at the hospital and then isolate themselves at the CSS Ava Center for a 14-day quarantine. Even the district administration tried to ensure their stay at the hotel but they also failed, he added. The doctors and nurses were later shifted to the Hotel Ambassador.

The medical staff of KMCH have been staying at the Millennium since April but the hotel authorities suddenly decided that the doctors will be no longer allowed there, without any notice, said Dr Munshi.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, a hotel management staff said they want to run it as before now that the government shutdown has been lifted. They need to renovate, he claimed, adding that doctors staying there will be a deterrent to other guests.

Sharifuzzaman, who owns the hotel building, said he rented out the hotel to a person called Mahbub, who the district administration made the arrangements with. 

"For the last two months, there has been no service staff at the hotel. Only two guards and doctors were staying here," he said.

"Now, who will take the responsibility if some accident takes place or something happens? So, we decided not to allow the doctors to stay here."

Sharifuzzaman said he informed the DC office and the local police station about it.

Contacted, Khulna DC Mohammed Helal Hossain said they locked down the hotel on Monday night. They will decide on the matter later, he added.