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BangladeshNationalist Party-BNP
Statement by Prof. Dr. Rafiqul Islam, Health Affairs Secretary of BNP
“A duty doctor was physically assaulted following the death of a patient at a private hospital in Barishal. The death of a patient is undoubtedly deeply painful. We respect the grief, suffering, and emotions of the patient’s family and relatives. However, under no circumstances is it acceptable to express that grief or anger through physical attacks, humiliation, vandalism, or threats against doctors, nurses, technologists, or any healthcare providers.
Medical service is an extremely sensitive, high-risk, and humanitarian profession. Doctors and all healthcare workers continue to work tirelessly every day to save lives despite limited manpower, limited resources, excessive patient pressure, and various adversities. Yet, in recent times, incidents of assault, harassment, and abuse against doctors, nurses, technologists, and hospital staff have been occurring repeatedly across the country. This is deeply alarming and a serious warning signal for the healthcare system.
A 2024 survey revealed that 48 percent of doctors and nurses have experienced physical or psychological abuse, yet the reporting rate was only 27.8 percent, meaning most incidents go unreported. Following the democratic government’s assumption of power after the national election on February 12, it is also necessary to investigate whether there is any conspiracy behind such incidents.
If there are any complaints related to medical services, there are legal, administrative, and institutional mechanisms in place to address them. There is scope for investigation, accountability, and legal remedy where necessary. However, taking the law into one’s own hands, creating instability within hospitals, and attacking on-duty healthcare workers cannot be accepted in any civilized society. Such incidents are not just an attack on an individual doctor or healthcare worker; they directly undermine the entire healthcare system, the patient care environment, and the public’s right to medical services.
These recurring incidents must be investigated promptly, fairly, and impartially. At the same time, those involved in such attacks must be identified and brought under the law to ensure exemplary punishment. Effective security measures must be ensured in hospitals and healthcare institutions, including rapid intervention by law enforcement agencies, strengthening hospital-based security protocols, and swift implementation of health protection laws.
If the safety of healthcare workers is not ensured, they will become mentally distressed, insecure, and demotivated, which will directly impact patient care and may drive patients to seek treatment abroad. Therefore, ensuring the dignity, safety, and professional independence of doctors and healthcare workers is the responsibility of the state, administration, hospital authorities, and all conscious members of society.”
Message Sender
(Muhammad Munir Hossain)
Assistant Office Secretary
Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP)
