The tranquil medical environment of Choumuhani, Noakhali’s primary commercial hub, was shattered on Monday evening when a violent mob launched a pre-planned assault on the Rabeya Private Hospital. At approximately 7:30 pm, the facility on College Road became a scene of absolute carnage as roughly 50 to 60 assailants, brandishing sticks and iron rods, forced their way into the building. The suddenness of the incursion triggered a panicked exodus, with infirm patients and their terrified families forced to flee into the streets to escape the encroaching violence.
The timing of the raid was particularly precarious; the hospital’s chairman and senior physician, Dr Abu Naser, was at that moment occupied in the operating theatre performing surgery. Undeterred by the presence of medical staff or those in critical care, the attackers laid waste to the ground floor. They systematically demolished essential diagnostic equipment, smashed computer workstations, and reduced hospital furniture to splinters. In addition to the physical destruction, management has reported the brazen theft of substantial cash reserves from the hospital’s secure billing counters.
Dr Naser, who has dedicated three decades to serving the Begumganj community alongside his wife, Dr Rabeya Khanam, expressed utter shock at the unprovoked nature of the strike. He maintained that the clinic has no history of malpractice or patient disputes that could justify such a vendetta. The financial toll is estimated to exceed 5 million BDT, representing a catastrophic blow to the local healthcare infrastructure.
| Victim Name | Age | Position | Injury Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ratan Debnath | 60 | Hospital Staff | Under Medical Care |
| Tofazzal Hossain | 40 | Hospital Staff | Under Medical Care |
| Shahinur Akhtar | 45 | Nurse’s Aide | Under Medical Care |
Following the incident, Inspector Md. Habibur Rahman of the Begumganj Police confirmed that a formal investigation has been launched. Although the perpetrators were captured on CCTV and several have been identified as locals, the authorities are yet to make any arrests. A criminal case has been filed against eight specifically named individuals and a further dozen unidentified accomplices as the community calls for swift justice against those who targeted a place of healing.
