DMCH lifts ban on journos

The authorities of Dhaka Medical College Hospital yesterday withdrew the conditional restriction imposed on journalists' entry into the hospital.
The decision came at a joint meeting, presided over by Awami League Joint General Secretary Mahbubul Alam Hanif, held between journalists' leaders and DMCH authorities at the AL leader's office at Karwan Bazar, reports UNB.
The restriction was imposed on July 22 following a news item published in the national dailies about the alleged assault of a patient by a doctor.
The DMCH authorities, however, termed the report “false and ill-motivated” and imposed the restriction on the media's access, without prior permission, to “restore discipline”.
The meeting also decided to withdraw the cases filed with Shahbagh Police Station by both the journalists and the interns in connection with Wednesday's incident, Dhaka Reporters Unity President Shakhawat Hossain Badsha was quoted by UNB as saying.
The doctors yesterday filed two cases against more than 100 journalists, while the journalists filed two cases on Wednesday night against 10 DMCH doctors, including one Mushfiqur Rahman, and 100 to 150 unnamed others, reports our correspondent.
At least eight journalists were assaulted at the hospital in sporadic attacks by the interns. DMCH sources said the interns assaulted the journalists when the patient, who was assaulted on July 19, went to the journalists' office at the hospital after his release to share his experience.
Meanwhile, the DMCH authorities yesterday regretted the incident terming it “unexpected” and assured that they would pay compensation to the victim journalists.
The meeting also formed a five-member investigation body headed by a joint secretary of the health ministry with representations from organisations of journalists and doctors.
The health ministry yesterday formed another probe committee on the incident. The three-member panel is led by Mahmuda Akhter, a joint secretary of the ministry.
DOCS DEMONSTRATE
Earlier in the day, healthcare services at the hospital were hampered due to continuous agitation by the doctors. They also held processions on the hospital premises protesting the filing of the cases by journalists.
The interns, along with some other doctors and DMC students, locked the gates of the hospital's outdoor section around 11:30am. Services at the outdoor are available between 8:30am and 2:00pm.
Due to the agitation, many people had to leave the hospital without receiving treatment. Moreover, the patients undergoing treatment at different wards did not get proper treatment until noon as many doctors were engaged in the demonstration.
PROTESTS
Different organisations yesterday strongly condemned the attack on journalists by the DMCH doctors and the activists of the Chhatra League, the Awami League-backed student wing, and demanded punishment of the culprits.
The organisations include Biplobi Workers Party, Dhaka University Journalists' Association (Duja), Progress Art and Mass Media Workers' Forum, and Shasthya Andolon.