RANGPUR: The intern doctors at Rangpur Medical College Hospital continued their strike for the second consecutive day yesterday to press home their five-point demand, causing sufferings to the patients of the hospital.
On Thursday night, an intern Sumon Miah came under attack by some miscreants on his way to the hospital. The attackers beat him severely and robbed him of belongings, including money and a mobile phone set.
Sumon was admitted to the hospital in critical condition. Protesting the incident, the intern-doctors began their strike on Friday evening.
They also demand the arrest and punishment of those who attacked one of their fellows. Their other demands include ensuring their security and construction of a permanent police camp on the hospital premises.
Meanwhile, a group of the interns formed a human chain on the campus around 10 am. They also held a rally on the campus and later handed over a memorandum to hospital director ASM Barkatullah.
Speaking at the rally, President of Interns Association of the hospital Dr Mahmudur Rahman Rifat said three other doctors came under attack by muggers in the hospital area recently. “We appeal to concerned authorities to take necessary steps in this regard but any action yet to be taken”, he said.  
They will continue their strike if the assailants are not arrested immediately and the hospital authorities do not take any effective steps to ensue the security of the interns.
Hospital director Barkatullah said they are trying to resolve the problems through discussions with the interns.
Gollam Kibria, in-charge of the Dhap police camp, said they arrested 10 suspected muggers from the hospital and nearby area on Friday night.
Meanwhile, due to strike of the intern-doctors, the admitted patients are worst sufferer.
A relative of a patient at medicine department said the intern-doctors mainly look after the patients and prescribe medicine. Senior doctors visit the department once in a day but never met with the patients and hear their problems.  Zakir Hossain, husband of admitted patient Latifa Khatun admitted to Gynae Department, said, “Today taking release from hospital and I admitted my wife to a clinic”.