Bogura student loses leg due to ‘medical negligence’
A human chain and protest rally was held in Bogura on Tuesday demanding exemplary punishment for the hospital staff responsible for medical negligence that allegedly forced doctors to amputate the leg of a college student, Ishtiak Zaman Eram.
Protesters, including family members, classmates, and locals, gathered at the city’s central Satmatha intersection carrying banners reading “Justice For Eram”.
They also demanded the unconditional withdrawal of cases and the immediate release of four students detained in connection with a scuffle over stretcher services at Shaheed Ziaur Rahman Medical College Hospital (SZMCH).
According to family members and fellow students, Eram was rushed to the SZMCH emergency unit last Wednesday following a road crash.
Trouble began when hospital trolley operators refused to provide a stretcher, demanding money far above the government-stipulated fee. A heated altercation broke out, leading to a clash between students and on-duty Ansar personnel.
Following the altercation, the hospital authorities lodged a police complaint, leading to the arrest of four students who were subsequently sent to jail.
Worse was yet to come for Eram. Protesters alleged that doctors at SZMCH failed to conduct essential diagnostics like a CT scan and improperly applied a plaster cast over severe tissue damage and fractures.
Due to extreme negligence and prolonged lack of proper surgical intervention over two days, blood circulation was cut off, causing severe tissue necrosis and gangrene.
When his condition deteriorated critically, he was referred to Dhaka, where surgeons had to amputate his leg above the ankle to save his life.
Speaking at the human chain, Eram’s weeping father said: “An entrenched syndicate controls the hospital trolleys—nothing moves without bribes.
They kept my injured son untreated and casually plastered his wounded leg. By the time they told us to go to Dhaka, the flesh had already decayed.
Today my son lost his leg; tomorrow it could be anyone else’s child. We want accountability and strict justice.”
Eram’s mother broke down during the protest, pleading with higher authorities: “Justice will not bring back my son’s leg. We appeal to the authorities to arrange advanced medical care and, if necessary, send him abroad for proper rehabilitation.”
The demonstration brought traffic in parts of the town to a brief standstill as participants chanted slogans against hospital syndicates and administrative apathy.
They warned of intensified agitation if the detained students are not released immediately and those guilty of negligence are not brought to book.
