Five Bangladeshi health workers have been arrested on charges of murder in connection with the death of a man, Mohammed Ismail, during the 2024 revolution. The arrest follows a social media post accusing the medics of failing to provide aid to Ismail, a rickshaw puller who was killed amid violent clashes between student-led protesters and security forces in Dhaka.
The case has sparked public outcry, drawing attention to the dangers faced by medical professionals during the period of unrest. According to the charges, the five individuals including Dr. Sadi Bin Shams and four nurses are accused of denying Ismail medical treatment and leaving him unattended for four hours, despite his serious injuries.
Ismail was shot in the head on July 19, 2024, during a police crackdown in Dhaka’s Rampura suburb. His bloodied body was later seen in a viral Facebook post, lying on the entrance steps of the Delta Health Care Hospital. The social media post intensified public scrutiny of the hospital staff, resulting in the accusations that they had failed to assist Ismail.
However, the hospital director, Saiful Islam Selim, has strongly defended the medics, stating that they had made repeated efforts to help injured protesters, defying police orders that prohibited the treatment of wounded demonstrators. According to Selim, the area around the hospital was akin to a “battleground” during the uprising, with both the police and the ruling Awami League party enforcing strict orders against treating protesters. Despite the risks, he says hospital staff did their best to assist those in need.
In a tense and dangerous environment, Selim explained that they had initially attempted to bring Ismail inside the hospital, but were forced to retreat when police fired shots at them. “We had no choice but to leave the body there,” he said, accusing the court of conducting a flawed investigation and failing to identify the police officer responsible for Ismail’s death.
While Ismail’s widow, Lucky Begum, expressed her desire for justice, she clarified that she did not want innocent medical workers to be imprisoned. She said she understood the challenges the hospital staff faced during the revolution.
The incident highlights the complex interplay between healthcare workers, law enforcement, and the political climate in Bangladesh during the tumultuous events of 2024. As the case continues to unfold, the debate over accountability, the safety of medical professionals, and the rights of citizens in times of political unrest remains a contentious issue.
