Patients Suffer as ‘Student Activists’ Turn Hospital Floor Into Party Zone (Video)

Joy Aditya

Dhaka: Many injured activists from the July anti-discrimination student movement are receiving treatment at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU). The entire fourth floor of the hospital’s cabin block has been allocated for these patients. However, most of them have recovered but have not yet left the hospital.

Instead, they spend the day participating in ‘protests’ outside and return at night to sleep in the hospital. Every night, they engage in various forms of entertainment. Due to their prolonged stay, ordinary patients are struggling to get cabins despite the severe shortage.

Meanwhile, a video obtained by BD Digest shows student activists engaging in fun and games inside the hospital cabin. Some are pouring water on each other’s heads, while others are playing kabaddi.

According to BSMMU authorities, a total of 28 individuals injured in the mass uprising of anti-discrimination students and citizens are currently admitted to the cabin block.

Ironically, the administration has provided these patients with board games such as chess, ludo, and carrom for entertainment.

A visit to the hospital on Thursday revealed that the building adjacent to Shahbagh Metro Station is primarily known as the cabin block. All rooms on the fourth floor of this building have been allocated to these activists. Most of the admitted individuals spend a large portion of their day socializing. To facilitate their entertainment, the hospital has distributed two carrom boards, several chess sets, and ludo sets. The admitted patients spend their time playing indoor games throughout the day.

Further observations revealed that, in the morning, ordinary patients were provided with bread, bananas, and eggs, while anti-discrimination activists received tehari. Additionally, the hospital authorities have installed multiple ovens on this fourth floor for reheating food, which violates hospital regulations.

Hafizur Rahman (pseudonym), a patient receiving treatment on the third floor of the cabin block, has been admitted for several days. He told BD Digest, “The activists admitted to the fourth floor do not seem ill at all. They spend their days making noise and having fun. A few days ago, one of them was caught attempting to engage in an illicit relationship inside a cabin. Their actions are disrupting the hospital’s normal environment.”

An attendant of another patient on the fifth floor told BD Digest, “It took us nearly a month to get a cabin in this hospital. But now, I see that those who have been given cabins on the fourth floor are not even eligible to stay there. They are just spending time socializing. They are doing whatever they want by holding the hospital authorities hostage. It’s time for the general public to stand up against them.”

Meanwhile, BD Digest attempted to speak with some of the admitted activists without revealing their identity as journalists. They admitted that they are getting bored after staying in the hospital for so long. Several groups have formed among them due to internal power struggles. As a result, many are staying even after recovering.

Hasnat Abdullah, the convener of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, could not be reached for comment despite multiple phone calls.