Two journalists were injured in an alleged attack by intern doctors at Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College Hospital on Wednesday night while attempting to film a dispute between doctors and a patient's relatives.
The injured journalists are Reza Rubel, a photojournalist for local daily Shyamol Sylhet, and Nibendu Talukdar of SylhetView24.com. Both were receiving treatment at the hospital following the incident.
According to sources, an argument broke out between intern doctors and relatives of a patient over surgery on the patient's leg. During the altercation, two of the patient's relatives were allegedly beaten and detained.
When the journalists attempted to record the incident, intern doctors allegedly attacked them, leaving both seriously injured.
Rubel said the journalists were assaulted despite repeatedly identifying themselves as members of the press.
"When a dispute broke out between the patient's relatives and the intern doctors, we went to record the incident. The doctors attacked us and injured our heads. We repeatedly identified ourselves as journalists, but they continued beating us," he said.
Khan Md Mainul Zakir, officer-in-charge of Kotwali Police Station under Sylhet Metropolitan Police, said police rescued two of the patient's relatives after they were detained during the altercation.
He said more intern doctors later arrived at the scene, triggering further unrest that left two journalists injured. The situation was subsequently brought under control, he added.
Dr Badarul Amin, deputy director of Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College Hospital, said hospital officials were holding a meeting to discuss the incident.
Meanwhile, journalists staged a protest at Chowhatta Point in Sylhet city on Wednesday night, demanding punishment for those responsible.
Senior journalist Shah Didar Alam Chowdhury Nobel alleged that intern doctors attacked the journalists to prevent them from documenting the earlier altercation with the patient's relatives.
He also alleged that hospital services remained suspended for several hours following the incident, leaving patients without treatment. Some patients reportedly left the hospital, while others who arrived in serious condition were unable to get admitted.
Nobel called for CCTV footage to be examined and strict legal and professional action to be taken against those involved.