5 Bangladeshi caregivers arrested following death during 2024 student revolution. Message accuses them of refusing to treat a man. The hospital denies this and claims they were prevented from acting by the police. What really happened that day?
A shocking revelation rocks Bangladesh as five health workers are arrested for murder following the death of a man during last year’s student protests. Mohammed Ismail, a rickshaw puller, lost his life on July 19, 2024 during a police crackdown in Rampura, a suburb of the capital Dhaka. A Facebook post showing her bloodied body outside the Delta Health Care hospital sparked a wave of outrage and criticism of medical staff.
Serious Charges and Arrests
Prosecutor General Mohammad Tajul Islam of the International Criminal Tribunal (ICTY) in Bangladesh claims that the five caregivers, including doctor Sadi Bin Shams, refused to provide treatment to Ismail, leaving him to die for four hours. Following the viral social media post, they were arrested Friday evening and now face murder charges.
Hospital denies allegations
However, Delta Health Care Hospital Director Saiful Islam Selim presents a different version of the story. According to him, doctors repeatedly defied orders from the police and the then ruling party, the Awami League, forbidding them to treat injured protesters. Mr. Selim says that despite these directives, hospital staff did their best to help the victims.
We tried to drag Mohammed Ismail’s body inside the hospital, but we retreated after police firing. We had no choice but to leave the body there.
Saiful Islam Selim, Director of Delta Health Care Hospital
-
Contested Investigation and Call for Justice
Mr. Selim accuses the TPI of having misdirected the investigation, having failed to identify the police officer responsible for Ismail’s death. For her part, Lucky Begum, the victim’s widow, wants justice to be done but emphasizes that she does not want innocent people to be imprisoned.
Murderous Student Revolution
As a reminder, last year’s student protests, which led to the ouster of Sheikh Hasina’s government on August 5, were particularly bloody. According to the interim authorities who subsequently took power, more than 800 people lost their lives during these events.
A Closely Followed Trial
The case of the five caregivers is now in the spotlight. The Bangladeshi population, still in shock from the deadly revolution, is closely following this trial which raises many questions. Did health professionals really fail in their duty by refusing to treat Mohammed Ismail? Did they act under duress from the police? Will the investigation shed light on this tragedy and bring justice to the victim and his family?
While the country is struggling to recover from last year’s violence, this new development revives the still raw wounds in Bangladeshi society. It also highlights the challenges faced by caregivers in times of crisis, caught between their Hippocratic Oath and external pressures.
One thing is certain: this trial, the outcome of which remains uncertain, will be closely scrutinized both in Bangladesh and internationally. It could have major repercussions on the way the country manages crisis situations and on the protection of health professionals in the exercise of their duties. Beyond the individual tragedy of Mohammed Ismail, an entire nation is waiting for answers and hoping that the truth will triumph.
