5 arrested over murder of Dr Rakib in Khulna

Police arrested five people including the main accused over the murder of Dr Abdur Rakib Khan in Khulna.

Commissioner of Khulna Metropolitan Police (KMP), Khandaker Lutful Kabir confirmed the matter to The Business Standard today.

He said the main accused Jamir, Abul Ali, Golam Mostofa and Khadiza were arrested from Tongi of Gazipur and Rupsha upazila of Khulna early Thursday.

Another accused, Abdur Rahim was arrested early Wednesday, he added.

Bangladesh Medical Association announced on Wednesday in an emergency meeting that all healthcare facilities in Khulna district will be suspended until all miscreants involved in the attacks are arrested, and the officer-in-charge of Khulna Sadar Police station is withdrawn.

Many patients in Khulna are suffering due to the suspension of the healthcare facilities especially those who came from far away.

Relative of a patient Abdullah said, "We did not know about the strike. We saw that everything is closed after we came to Khulna Medical College Hospital with the patient. I hear that all the hospitals have the same condition."

However, the Covid-19 treatment facilities and emergency services at Khulna Medical College and Hospital (KMCH) remain operational.

Dr Rakib, director of Raisa Clinic and Diagnostic Centre in Khulna, was injured in a scuffle with a patient's relatives at his private clinic, died on Tuesday evening while being treated at Shaheed Sheikh Abu Naser Specialised Hospital in Khulna.

On Monday night, a pregnant woman died after giving birth to a baby at the clinic, leading her relatives to bring up allegations of wrong treatment and later to the scuffle.

Dr Rakib's younger brother Saiful Islam filed a case against four of the patient's relatives and 8-10 anonymous others at Khulna Sadar police station.