Attack on journos: Protesters give Sylhet hospital 48-hour ultimatum

Protests erupted in Sylhet following an attack on two journalists at Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College Hospital, with demonstrators demanding the immediate dismissal of the intern doctors allegedly involved in the incident.

Protesters have given the hospital authorities a 48-hour deadline to take action against those responsible, warning of a larger movement if their demands are not met.

On Friday night, Sylhet Kallyan Sangstha organised a protest march from Chouhatta in the city. Led by the organisation’s founder, Ehsanul Haque Taher, the procession passed through several major roads before ending at Court Point, where a brief rally was held.

More than a hundred members of the organisation and members of the public took part in the demonstration. Protesters chanted slogans demanding justice for the attacked journalists and punishment for those involved.

Addressing the rally, Taher said attacks on journalists while performing their professional duties could not be treated as isolated incidents, describing such violence as a direct assault on press freedom and the right to carry out journalistic responsibilities.

He said Reza Rubel, a photographer for daily Shyamol Sylhet and camera operator for Channel S, and Nibendu Talukdar, a reporter for SylhetView24.com, were assaulted while covering a clash between intern doctors and relatives of a patient at the hospital.

Taher said such conduct by individuals engaged in the medical profession was unacceptable.

He also called for accountability and greater transparency in the hospital, saying allegations of negligence or irregularities involving hospital officials, employees, nurses, Ansar personnel, ward attendants or intern doctors should be investigated impartially and appropriate action taken.

Questioning the role of police personnel on duty during the incident, he said anyone found negligent in carrying out their responsibilities should also face disciplinary action.

The rally demanded that those involved in the attack be identified and exemplary punishment ensured within 48 hours. It also called for the dismissal of the intern doctors allegedly involved.

The organisers warned that failure to meet the demands within the stipulated period would prompt a broader movement involving people from all walks of life in Sylhet.

Meanwhile, journalists in Sylhet have called for a united protest over the assault. Under the banner of ‘Journalists from All Walks of Life in Sylhet’, a rally is scheduled to be held at 11am on Saturday (October 31) at the Central Shaheed Minar in Chouhatta.

Journalist leaders are expected to announce further programmes at the gathering.