Police have arrested Imran Khan Salam, senior joint convener of the Bakerganj municipal unit of Jubo Dal, over an alleged assault on a doctor at Bakerganj Upazila Health Complex in Barishal.
Salam was arrested at around 5pm on Tuesday (10 November) from the house of Sohel Rana, vice-president of the upazila unit of Chhatra League, in Ward 7 of Bharpasha Union. The alleged assault took place earlier that afternoon at the doctor’s chamber inside the health complex.
According to eyewitnesses and people familiar with the incident, Dr Suranjit Das was attending to patients as part of his regular duties when Belayet Hossain Khan arrived seeking medical attention. As another female patient was already inside the chamber, the doctor asked him to wait for a short while.
Belayet subsequently informed his son, Imran Khan Salam, about the situation. It is alleged that Salam arrived at the chamber shortly afterwards with three to four other people.
The group allegedly behaved aggressively towards the doctor, verbally abused him and physically assaulted him. Faced with the escalating situation, Dr Das left his chamber to protect himself and took shelter in the office of the Upazila Health and Family Planning Officer.
Speaking to journalists, Dr Das said Salam had entered his chamber after he asked a patient to wait briefly. He alleged that Salam obstructed his official duties, subjected him to obscene verbal abuse and assaulted him. Following the incident, the doctor filed a case with Bakerganj Police Station.
The incident has raised concerns about the safety of healthcare professionals working in public medical facilities. Doctors are expected to provide treatment to patients regardless of the circumstances, and a safe working environment is essential to ensure that medical services continue without disruption.
Upazila Health and Family Planning Officer Mir Shahidul Islam Shahin condemned the alleged attack, saying that violence against a doctor on duty at a healthcare institution was unacceptable.
He said the matter had been brought to the attention of Abul Hossain Khan, chairman of the hospital management committee and a Member of Parliament. According to Shahin, the MP instructed the relevant authorities to take necessary legal action over the incident.
The assault also caused anxiety among other doctors at the health complex. Following the incident, medical professionals temporarily stopped attending to patients in protest and amid concerns over their safety. However, emergency medical services remained operational to ensure that patients requiring urgent treatment were not left without assistance.
Bakerganj Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Adil Hossain confirmed the arrest. He said a case had been filed against Salam and several others in connection with the alleged assault and obstruction of the doctor’s official duties.
Police subsequently conducted an operation and arrested Salam from Bharpasha Union. Efforts are continuing to identify and apprehend the other individuals allegedly involved in the incident.
The investigation is expected to establish the circumstances surrounding the confrontation and determine the involvement of those named in the case. Salam’s arrest marks the first reported police action in the matter, while the search for the other accused remains underway.
