Three Ansar security personnel sustained injuries on Sunday evening after a notorious hospital broker launched a knife attack inside the premises of the Debidwar Upazila Health Complex in Comilla. The violence erupted at around 7:30 pm directly in front of the emergency department, prompting on-duty guards and members of the public to overpower the attacker and turn him over to the police.
Law enforcement officers identified the detained suspect as 35-year-old Aktar Hossain, son of Ruhul Amin from the Oman Kashem Bari area within Debidwar municipality.
The injured Ansar members—identified as Md Hannan Mia, Delowar Hossain, and Shahabuddin—were all deployed to maintain order and safeguard patients at the government facility. Recounting the violent encounter, Delowar Hossain explained that Aktar, a well-known illegal broker operating in the area, entered the hospital grounds without authorization. When guards stopped him to ask the purpose of his visit, Aktar flew into a rage, produced a sharp surgical scissor blade from his pocket, and lunged at them. When fellow guards rushed to assist, the suspect began striking out indiscriminately before being restrained by additional security staff and onlookers.
Providing further details on the incident, Dr Kabir Hossain, Resident Medical Officer (RMO) of the health complex, characterized Aktar as a repeat offender who poses a constant threat to facility operations. Dr Hossain noted that the suspect habitually carries sharp blades and frequently targets hospital staff, patients, and visiting relatives for intimidation and mugging.
Government health facilities across the region frequently struggle with illegal brokers who infiltrate hospital grounds to divert patients toward private clinics, overcharge for services, or commit petty crimes. To counter this persistent security threat, health authorities had specifically assigned an 11-member Ansar contingent to fortify the Debidwar hospital. Dr Hossain revealed that despite Aktar suffering multiple previous arrests and serving sentences imposed by mobile courts, he routinely resumed his illicit activities upon release.
Following the assault, Executive Magistrate and Assistant Commissioner (Land) Faysal Uddin arrived on the scene to assess the situation. Given the severity of the physical injuries inflicted on the security guards, the magistrate advised hospital administration to file a formal criminal case rather than relying on summary court proceedings.
Debidwar Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Md Moniruzzaman confirmed that police officers dispatched to the complex took the suspect into custody immediately. He added that the hospital authority is acting as the primary complainant in registering a formal case, after which the accused will be produced before the court on Monday morning.
