Healthcare services at the National Institute of Ophthalmology and Hospital have remained suspended for the past four days, following a clash between hospital staff and injured participants of the July movement, leaving patients and their families in dire straits.

On Saturday (May 31), the hospital gates remained closed, forcing many patients, especially those travelling from outside Dhaka, to return home without treatment.

Authorities have yet to provide any indication of when services will resume.

Although the altercation took place on Wednesday (May 28), hospital authorities have continued to withhold medical services since then.

Secretariat employees suspend Wednesday’s protests after meeting  

A visit to the hospital revealed patients arriving from various parts of the country, only to find the gates locked. Left with no alternative, many waited briefly outside before leaving in disappointment.

The situation has been especially difficult for those already under treatment. Monir, a July movement protester, shared his ordeal: “What can I do, brother? Who do I even talk to? The hospital has been shut for four days—not just treatment, they’ve even stopped giving us food. So I had to return home.”

Dr Sanjoy Kumar, a hospital consultant, explained, “None of us -- doctors -- are attending the hospital on the instructions of our acting director, Jan-E-Alam Mridha. Once the situation normalises, we will return to service under his direction.”

He went on to say, “On 28 May, those injured in the July movement expressed dissatisfaction with their treatment and eventually got into a clash with our staff. Services were ongoing on that day, but everything has been completely shut since 29 May.”

Repeated attempts to reach acting director Jan-E-Alam by phone were unsuccessful.

He, however, told the media earlier, “We have contacted the relevant departments to help stabilise the situation. Until adequate security is ensured, doctors and nurses are unwilling to return to work. We have not received any assurances from higher authorities in this regard.”

Alam said efforts are underway to resume services as soon as possible, but stressed the need for caution: “We must also remain alert to avoid any untoward incidents.”

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The unrest began on Wednesday (28 May), when injured July movement protesters attacked hospital staff over alleged medical negligence. Around 15 hospital personnel, including doctors, were injured in the clash. Following the attack, both doctors and staff vacated the premises, halting all services.

Earlier, on Sunday (May 25), four July movement protesters who were receiving treatment at the hospital reportedly consumed poison, alleging that no effective measures were being taken for proper medical care or rehabilitation.

The situation escalated further on Tuesday, when the protesters confined the hospital director to his office.

He was rescued more than an hour later with the help of the army.

In response, hospital employees began a work stoppage on Wednesday morning, demanding increased security.

The following clash with the protesters led to the ongoing suspension of medical services.