JCD men, interns ransack hospital canteen in Barisal

The ransacked doctors¿ canteen at Barisal Sher-e-Bangla Medical College Hospital. PHOTO: STAR

But the attackers and the canteen owner made conflicting claims about the cause of the incident.

Munsur Ali, owner of the canteen claimed that JCD men Tomal, a student of 34 th batch and Tuli and Zia, students of 35th batch, had demanded toll from him. They also threatened him as he refused to pay them toll.

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At about 9-30 yesterday, Tamal, Tuli, Zia took breakfast in the canteen. When the canteen owner asked them to pay bills along with some arrears, they refused.

An altercation ensued. At one stage, JCD cadres including some intern doctors belonging to the party started ransacking and looting the canteen on the plea of unusual price hike of food items, the canteen owner alleged.

They broke crockery and furniture, threw away food items and snatched cash and mobile phone, he alleged.

As the news spread, leaders of Barisal Hotel and Sweet Meat Owners Association along with Dr. Aziz Rahim, Barisal district president of Doctors Association of Bangladesh and other DAB leaders rushed to the spot and cooled down the JCD men.

Later, leaders of the Hotel and Sweet Meat Owners Association demanded punishment to the JCD cadres and intern doctors involved in the incident.

Dr. Shah Alam, Director-in-Charge of SBMCH, when contacted later, regretted the incident and said action will be taken against JCD men involved in the incident.

Sheikh Zillur Rahman, Officer-in-Charge of Barisal Kotwali police station, said a police team was sent to SBMCH campus to maintain order. No case was lodged when the report was filed in the evening.