Khulna doctors halt strike as police arrest 5 suspects
But they demanded the withdrawal of the officer-in-charge of Khulna Sadar police station, claiming the investigation would not be fair otherwise
Doctors in Khulna halted their strike for 72 hours after police on Thursday arrested five people accused of allegedly beating Dr Abdur Rakib Khan to death.
However, the physicians demanded the withdrawal of the officer-in-charge of Khulna Sadar police station, claiming the investigation would not be fair otherwise.
The activists also said that despite being close to Raisa Clinic – the scene of the murder – cops at the Gollamari police outpost did not come to the rescue of the helpless doctor during the attack.
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Gollamari police outpost is under the Khulna Sadar police station.
The Bangladesh Medical Association (BMA) made the announcement during a conference at the Khulna press club on Thursday noon.
"We are halting the strike for 72 hours, considering the sufferings of patients. But we will start the demonstration again if the authorities do not withdraw the officer-in-charge," BMA Khulna President Dr Sheikh Baharul Alam said during the press conference.
Earlier on Wednesday, doctors in Khulna staged protests demanding the punishment of the people who murdered Dr Abdur Rakib Khan and demanded security for doctors. The protest took place at Khulna's Shaat Rastar Mor area in the afternoon.
Activists from the Bangladesh Medical Association, the Bangladesh Private Hospital Clinic and Diagnostic Owners' Association, and the Bangladesh Private Medical Practitioners' Association took part in the protest.
Earlier on Monday, a pregnant woman who had previously given birth at the Raisa Clinic and Diagnostic Centre in Khulna died, leading her relatives to bring up allegations of wrong treatment.
Dr Rakib, director of the clinic, was injured in a scuffle with the patient's relatives later that night.
He died the next day while being treated at Shaheed Sheikh Abu Naser Specialised Hospital in Khulna.
On Wednesday, Dr Rakib's younger brother Saiful Islam filed a case against four of the patient's relatives and 8-10 other unnamed people with the Khulna Sadar police station.
