DU students, DMCH doctors clash, halting emergency services

A clash between students of the University of Dhaka and doctors at Dhaka Medical College Hospital on Wednesday afternoon led to the suspension of services at the hospital’s emergency unit.

Several people from both sides were reportedly injured in the incident, which hospital authorities said prompted a temporary halt to emergency operations on security grounds.

According to doctors on duty, a Dhaka University student visited the emergency department seeking treatment. After examination, the attending physician issued a prescription but advised the student to purchase the required medicines from outside, as they were not available in the hospital’s government supply.

Shortly afterwards, the student returned with a group of fellows and entered into an argument with the doctors, alleging that the prescribed medicines were not available in outside pharmacies either. The situation escalated, and at one stage, the students reportedly attacked the physicians, triggering a scuffle that quickly turned into a wider clash.

DU students said the clash reportedly erupted around 5:30 pm following an alleged assault on a Dhaka University student, Sanim from the Botany Department, by doctors at Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH). Sanim, a resident of Amar Ekushey Hall, was reportedly beaten, sparking immediate outrage among his peers.

Witnesses and classmates claim that when a group of students from Amar Ekushey Hall arrived at the hospital to check on Sanim, they were also met with aggression. This confrontation rapidly escalated into a heated scuffle between the two groups, leading to widespread tension across the hospital premises.

Eyewitnesses said intern doctors and DU students were involved in multiple rounds of clashes, causing panic within the hospital premises.

Confirming the incident, Md Faruk, in charge of the DMCH police camp, said the clash stemmed from a dispute over medicine purchase. “Police rushed to the spot after receiving information and brought the situation under control,” he said.

Law enforcement eventually intervened in an attempt to restore order. By 6:30 pm, a large number of DU students had gathered outside the emergency department, while DMCH doctors and medical students remained positioned inside. As a result of the ongoing standoff, the DMCH emergency department has been forced to suspend operations, leaving critical medical services at a standstill.