Rajshahi docs, clinics go on strike

Doctors and clinic owners began a wildcat strike at government and private hospitals in Rajshahi district from this evening protesting bail denial to a physician.
Leaders of the Bangladesh Medical Association (Rajshahi unit) and Clinic and Diagnostic Centre Owners Association in a joint press conference at Mukti Clinic in the city announced the strike around 9:00pm.
According to the doctors, treatment facilities at all clinics and government hospitals including Rajshahi Medical College Hospital will remain suspended for an indefinite period, reports our Rajshahi correspondent.
Khalilur Rahman, BMA’ Rajshahi unit general secretary, announced that a team of doctors, however, will provide treatment to emergency patients. The patients already admitted at the clinics and hospitals will be provided with treatment, he added.
Central Vice President of BMA Tabibur Rahman told The Daily Star a court in Rajshahi today denied bail to Orthopedic specialist Dr Samiul Uddin Ahmed and sent him to jail in a murder case despite police submitted a final report exempting him from the charges.
A businessman from Chapainawabganj, Anwarul Haque, died at Dilphin Clinic in the city less than half an hour after he was taken to operation theatre for a surgery on his broken right leg on January 30 this year.
Following the death, his family filed the murder case with Boalia Police Station against Dr Samiul and 10 others.
Khalilur in the press briefing said the strike will continue until Shamim is released on bail.