A clash between suspected Covid-19 patients and the Ansar broke out at Mugda General Hospital on Friday morning over the serial sequence of sample collection.
Ansar members attacked Rubel Rashid, a photojournalist, and broke his camera as he was trying to take pictures of the incident.
The attack took place at around 11:30am on Friday. The incident was later brought under control by the police.
Rubel said: “Around 40 people were given tickets for the Covid-19 test at the hospital today (Friday). But after testing 34 people, the Ansar said testing was over for the day.
“Later, Ansar members had an argument with a young man named Shaon who was 36th in line for sample submission. At one point, the Ansar started beating him.”
Another photojournalist from Bangladesh Protidin, Joyeeta Roy, also went there to take pictures of the incident, but the Ansar members hurled abusive words at her, Rubel added.
“I also proceeded to take pictures of the incident, and the Ansar members slapped me, breaking my camera lens filter,” he said.
The Ansar were abusing journalists and threatened to tie them up at the time. At one stage they said- “Journalists will not be allowed to stay here.”
Photojournalist Joyeeta Roy said Ansar members were arguing with the relative of a patient in front of the hospital about the Covid-19 testing serial.
Thinking the situation would get worse, she took out her camera and took pictures of the incident, she mentioned.
“They came towards me and yelled obscenities when I protested about this. Then I stepped back a bit,” she added.
It was not immediately possible to get comments on the matter from Mugda Hospital authorities or the Ansar officer in charge at the place.
Mugda police station Sub-Inspector (SI) Akramul Islam said: “Police rushed to the scene immediately after the incident took place and brought the situation under control. They spoke to both sides and settled the matter.”
“No complaint as such was lodged with the police station by the boy (Shaon) or the journalists. If a complaint is filed, action will be taken according to the law,” he added.
