National eye hospital operations in full swing after 17-day closure

The National Institute of Ophthalmology and Hospital has resumed services after a 17-day disruption due to clashes between a group of patients injured during the July Uprising and hospital staff.

Patient admissions resumed alongside outpatient consultations and surgeries on Saturday, according to hospital staff.

One of the hospital’s two main gates was open, with patients and their relatives entering through an auxiliary entry monitored by police, Ansar members, and private security guards.

As the hospital saw a surge in outpatient numbers, Jewel Barman, who travelled from Demra with his wife, said she had missed a scheduled post-surgery consultation due to the closure.

“The doctor told us to come after a month, but when we arrived earlier, it was shut. We saw news that doctors would return today [Saturday], so we came again.”

Another patient, Badsha Mia from Bhogra in Gazipur, said his wife was scheduled to undergo cataract surgery during the shutdown. “It was a hassle, but things are normal today. All required tests have been completed. The surgery is set for Jun 18,” he said.

Ashraful Islam, who came from Cumilla's Daudkandi, said he was previously turned away.

“Today, I received proper service. This is a crucial medical facility—closures like this cause problems for the public.”

Dr Jane Alam, acting director of the hospital, said: “All disruptions in care have been settled. Everything is running normally. However, four or five individuals are preventing us from preparing beds for new patients.”

Alam said that of the 54 July Uprising patients admitted to the hospital, 50 left without formal discharge and remain unaccounted for.

“We are treating them as absent. Four others are still in the hospital, three of whom are ready to be discharged and may come for follow-up from home, while one remains in hospital care. Another individual is staying here without being officially admitted.”

Despite the resumption of services, some hospital staff still reported feeling unsafe.

“Some of the people involved in the previous unrest are stationed outside the hospital, occasionally interfering with operations,” Alam said.

A few of those injured in the earlier protest were seen near the hospital’s entrance on Saturday.

One of them said, “I went to my hometown during Eid. Now I’ve come back, and the police won’t let me in. My condition is serious. The hospital exaggerated a minor incident and labelled us as villains.”

All services in the hospital were suspended on May 28 after hospital staff went on strike. Clashes broke out with members of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement protests who were undergoing treatment, as well as with some of their relatives. Army personnel intervened later that day to restore order, but full control was not regained until later.

Following the unrest, doctors and hospital workers suspended services citing safety concerns. While emergency care resumed on Jun 5, full operations had remained halted until now.