DHAKA: Doctors at Bangladesh Institute of Research & Rehabilitation in Diabetes, Endocrine and Metabolic Disorders (Birdem) Hospital on Thursday again warned of going on work abstention from Monday, if the assaulters remained unpunished till then.

The doctors came up with the warning at a human chain formed at Shahbagh intersection, stretching from the Rupshi Bangla Hotel to the Dhaka Club, at 11:30pm demanding immediate arrest of attackers.

The human chain was followed by a protest procession, parading road to the Teacher-Student Center of Dhaka University, which ended in front of the hospital.

At the human chain, Dr. Firoz of the hospital’s Surgery Department said, “Guilty police officer Masud was closed only following the steps taken by the health minster, which was not a punishment.”

“In addition, measures should have to be taken against former minster Munnujan Sufian’s assistant personal secretary (APS) Babu and Abir Hossain, who admitted the involvement on his Facebook account,” he added.

Firoz, on behalf of the doctors, threatened to go for non-stop strike again from next Monday, if steps are not taken against the involved people.

Doctors and medical students from Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, Dhaka Medical College & Hospital, Sir Salimullah Medical College and Mitford Hospital, Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College and other government and private medical colleges and hospitals joined the human chine.

The doctors decided to observe an hour-work abstention for Saturday to press their demands.

The decision was taken at a meeting on Thursday morning, said Anwarul Islam, senior medical officer of the hospital.

Meanwhile, normalcy has come at the hospital since the doctors returned workplaces on Thursday morning calling off their strike.

Patients were seen crowding at the hospital’s emergency department.

Earlier, the agitating doctors called off their strike on Wednesday following a meeting with health ministry officials and leaders of Bangladesh Medical Association.

Birdem doctors went on an indefinite work abstention from Tuesday protesting assault on colleagues by relatives of a patient.

Five doctors, including a female one, were assaulted by the relatives of a patient who died at the hospital on last Sunday.

BIRDEM now normal

BDST: 1414 HRS APR 17, 2014