Why a Kolkata hospital has refused to treat Bangladeshi patients

Recently, the unrest in Bangladesh has once again grabbed attention.

The local administration has not done much to stop mob attacks on homes and the impunity with which minorities, especially Hindus, are targeted.

A hospital in north Kolkata announced on Friday that it will not treat any patients from the neighbouring country in direct response to the current circumstances.

They say that the move is due to reported insults to the Indian flag by Bangladeshi citizens and to suspected anti-Hindu violence in Bangladesh.

Let’s take a closer look at the matter.

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Hospital refuses to treat Bangladeshi patients

Subhranshu Bhakta, the director of J N Roy Hospital located in Maniktala, said on Friday, “We have issued a notification that from today till an indefinite time we will not admit any Bangladeshi patient for treatment. This is primarily because of the insults they have shown towards India.”

He also called on other local hospitals to protest the alleged atrocities against minorities in Bangladesh by carrying out the same action.

“Seeing the tricolour being insulted, we have decided to stop treating Bangladeshis. India has played an important role in their independence but despite that, we are witnessing anti-India sentiments. We hope other hospitals will support us and take similar steps," he added.

Renowned gynaecologist Indranil Saha had previously announced on social media that he no longer saw patients from Bangladesh.

Saha allegedly shared a photo of the desecration of the Indian flag in Bangladesh on social media on Thursday evening.

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“The Indian national flag is lying at the entrance of BUET University! I am stopping seeing Bangladeshi patients in the chamber for now. Country first, income later. I hope other doctors will do the same until the relationship is normal,” Saha had said.

A similar demand was made by West Bengal Assembly Leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari on Friday afternoon.

“I bow down to Dr Indranil Saha. He said, my country first, income after…I request the entire Indian medical community, businessmen and India lovers to boycott Bangladesh completely,” Adhikari had said.

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Attacks on Hindu temples

The decision comes as tensions between the two neighbours have increased due to a string of attacks on Hindu temples in Chattogram, Bangladesh.

Three temples in the city’s Harish Chandra Munsef Lane neighbourhood — Shantaneshwari Matri Temple, Shoni Temple, and Shantaneshwari Kalibari Temple — were vandalised by a crowd on Friday.

Around 2:30 pm, a group of several hundred people flung bricks at the temples while yelling slogans, according to Bangladeshi news portal BDNews24.

Abdul Karim, the chief of the Kotwali Police Station, verified the incident and said that although there was little damage, tensions were high.

Tapan Das, a temple committee member, said, “A procession of hundreds arrived after Juma prayers, shouting anti-Hindu and anti-ISKCON slogans. We called the Army when the situation worsened, and order was eventually restored.”

According to the Foundation for India and Indian Diaspora Studies (FIIDS), there have been over 200 reported incidents of violence against Bangladesh’s minority Hindu community since 5 August.

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Hindu monk arrested

The attacks came after spiritual leader and former ISKCON member Chinmoy Krishna Das was arrested on sedition-related charges.

Prabhu, a monk who spearheaded several demonstrations against Bangladesh’s crimes against Hindus, was taken into custody on November 25 at the airport in Dhaka. He was allegedly accused because of his vocal support for minority rights.

In Bangladesh, the Hindu community protested in Dhaka, Chattogram, and other places after his arrest on Monday and the subsequent refusal of bail on Tuesday.

The escalating violence has caused the Indian government to voice serious concerns.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar informed Parliament that Dhaka ought to protect all of its citizens, including minorities.  

“The surge in extremist rhetoric and violence is unacceptable. It is Bangladesh’s responsibility to protect its minorities,” he said.

“We urge Bangladesh authorities to ensure the safety and security of Hindus and all minorities, including their right of freedom of peaceful assembly and expression," said the MEA in an official statement.

Bangladesh, meanwhile, urged India to protect its diplomatic offices and voiced concerns over demonstrations at its deputy high commission in Kolkata.

With inputs from agencies