04/09/2026
||IMSEN Bangladesh STANDS IN SOLIDARITY WITH Shaheed Ziaur Rahman Medical College ||
IMSEN Bangladesh strongly condemns the brutal attack on Intern doctors and medical students at Shaheed Ziaur Rahman Medical College (SZMC), Bogura, on 1 September 2026.
Following the death of a critically ill patient who had been admitted to Medicine Unit-4 with acute exacerbation of COPD, type 2 respiratory failure and shock, a violent mob of patient attendants attacked doctors and medical students inside the hospital premises.
At the time of receiving the patient, the patient's blood pressure and pulse were non-recordable, with severely low oxygen saturation, and the attending team immediately initiated emergency measures, including arranging a non-rebreather mask and high-flow oxygen support, while continuing resuscitative management.
Despite the circumstances surrounding the patient's critical condition, the situation escalated into an attack on healthcare workers and students. Around 15 medical students were seriously injured while attempting to intervene and protect their colleagues.
The reported injuries include multiple stab wounds to the back with blunt injuries, fractures of the 5th metacarpal, head injuries, lacerations, swelling, bruises, abrasions, cut/incised-cut injuries and other traumatic injuries. Several doctors were also injured, including cases of laceration, swelling and bruising.
Of particular concern is the inadequate response of the Ansar personnel present at the hospital. The security response was insufficient to prevent or control the violence, leaving healthcare workers and students vulnerable. Such a failure cannot be overlooked. Stricter accountability, stronger security deployment and effective emergency security protocols are urgently required in hospitals.
IMSEN Bangladesh supports the legitimate demands of the intern doctors of SZMC, including:
- Immediate and effective reinforcement of hospital security to protect doctors, medical students and other healthcare workers.
- Strict legal action and accountability against those involved in the attack.
- Ensuring that no patient attendant or mob is allowed to assault, threaten or intimidate healthcare workers within hospital premises.
- Stricter measures regarding hospital security personnel, including accountability for inadequate security response.
- Establishment of effective protocols so that no such incident is repeated in the future.
- Ensuring a safe and secure working environment for doctors, interns and medical students providing emergency and essential healthcare services.
IMSEN Bangladesh calls upon the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, hospital authorities, law-enforcement agencies and all concerned authorities to take immediate and decisive action.
We also urge the people of Bangladesh to understand the reality of our healthcare system. Doctors and medical students work at the frontline of patient care, often under extreme pressure and with limited resources. The death of a patient is a tragedy—but violence against those providing care is never an acceptable response.
A hospital must remain a place of treatment, safety and humanity—not a place where healthcare workers fear for their lives.
We stand with SZMC.
We stand with the injured.
We stand against mob violence.
We demand safety, accountability and justice.
United in Solidarity • United Against Violence
