Doctors protest jailing of NIMH Registrar
Psychiatrists, other doctors and health workers gathered in front of National Institute of Mental Health and Hospital (NIMH) to protest against the arrest of NIMH Registrar Dr Abdullah Al Mamun.
The protest continued from 10am to 2:20pm on Saturday.
According to the protesting healthcare professionals Dr Abdullah Al Mamun was wrongfully sent to jail,
despite finding no evidence of his involvement in the murder of ASP Anisul Karim Shipon.
The doctors demand immediate release of Dr Abdullah Al Mamun.
Doctors from Bangladesh Medical Associaltion, Swadhinata Chikitsak Parishad(SWACHIP), Bangladesh Association of Psychiatrists and a few other institutions joined the protest.
Addressing the protest, Health Secretary Abdul Mannan said: “You can certainly be arrested if you do wrong. Dr Mamun will surely get justice and he will get opportunity to defend himself.
“However, if patients are harmed due to the movement of psychiatrists, the responsibility will fall on you. Please, be patient and do your duties.”
He also said that action is being taken against illegal private hospitals like Mind Aid Hospital.
Civil surgeons have been instructed to take action, he added.
Shahana Parvin, assistant professor at NIMH expressed solidarity with all the protesting psychiatrists present there.
A court on Friday sent Mind Aid Psychiatry and De-Addiction Hospital Director Fatema Khatun and National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) Registrar Dr Abdullah Al Mamun to jail in a case lodged over the murder of Senior Assistant Superintendent of Police Anisul Karim Shipon.
According to the police, ASP Anisul was brought to the hospital at about 11.30am on November 9 for mental treatment, but no doctor was present at that time.
“The accused took the victim to the observation room on the second floor of the hospital by force. They beat him repeatedly there, at one stage a couple of them pinned him on the ground and thrashed him on head and shoulder. They tied the victim with a scarf,” the Investigation Officer said.
ASP Shipon became senseless and when his relatives took him to National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases (NICVD), the attending doctor declared him dead.
ASP Shipon’s father filed the case with Adabor police station against 15 people.
