Authorities at Sher-e-Bangla Medical College Hospital in Barishal suspended a staff member on Saturday after he allegedly slapped a child patient inside the operation theatre during treatment.

The incident occurred when the child moved in fear while receiving an injection, family members claimed.

The child, identified as Rimon from Patuakhali district, was taken to the hospital after an accident severed one of his fingers.

Relatives alleged the boy had to wait nearly nine hours before treatment began.

After examinations, doctors informed the family that the severed finger could not be reattached.

Later, when preparations were made to give him an injection, Rimon became scared and started crying and moving.

At that time, Shaheen (Nazmul), an assistant to a doctor in the orthopaedics operation theatre, allegedly slapped the child on the cheek.

Family members said the boy started crying after the slap.

When they arrived, they noticed clear finger marks on his cheek.

They also claimed the slap was so strong that blood clots appeared in his eye.

Relatives further alleged that when they protested, the accused staff member and others at the hospital threatened them and forced them to leave the area.

The incident later spread across the hospital, creating tension among patients and attendants.

The matter was then reported to the hospital authorities.

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Brig Gen AKM Moshiul Munir, Director of Sher-e-Bangla Medical College Hospital, said the authorities found preliminary evidence of the incident and suspended the accused staff member, Shaheen (Nazmul).

“The process is underway to take legal action against him,” he added.