Kolkata hospital refuses to treat Bangladeshi patients over anti-India protests

A hospital in Kolkata, the capital of the Indian state of West Bengal, has announced that it will no longer treat Bangladeshi patients, citing alleged violence against Hindus and hatred of India expressed by Bangladeshi people.

The decision was taken following incidents of disrespect towards India’s national flag by protesters in Bangladesh, Subhranshu Bhakt, an official at JN Ray Hospital, located in the city’s Manicktala area, said yesterday (November 29). reports The Times of India.

“We have issued a notification that from today till indefinite time we will not admit any Bangladeshi patient for treatment. This is mainly due to the insults they have shown towards India,” Bhakt told news agency PTI on Friday.

He also urged other healthcare providers in Kolkata to take the same action as a protest against the reported mistreatment of minorities in Bangladesh, TOI reports.

“Seeing how the tricolor is being insulted, we have decided to stop treating Bangladeshis. India has played an important role in their independence, but despite this, we are witnessing anti-India sentiments. We hope that other hospitals will support us and take similar measures,” he said. aggregate.

The relationship between Bangladesh and India is under some strain following protests and violence following the arrest and imprisonment of a Hindu community leader last week.

On November 25, Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari, former spokesperson of Bangladesh’s International Society for Krishna Consciousness (Iskcon) and a prominent figure in the Hindu community, was arrested in a sedition case filed by a BNP leader in Chattogram on October 25.

Chinmoy, also known as Chandan Kumar Dhar, currently spokesperson for Bangladesh Sammilita Sanatani Jagaran Jote, and 18 others were charged in the case of allegedly disrespecting the national flag of Bangladesh by hoisting a saffron flag during an organized demonstration by Bangladesh Sanatan Jagaran Spot in the port. city.

On November 26, a Chattogram court denied Chinmoy’s bail plea and sent him to prison. After the hearing, when Chinmoy boarded a prison police van, a mob, mostly his supporters, blocked the roads, leading to a standoff on the court premises that lasted about two and a half hours.

In protest against the attack and vandalism, Saiful and a group of lawyers took part in a procession. At that moment, armed individuals chased them. When Saiful stumbled and fell, a group of attackers beat and cut him mercilessly.

The lawyer was rescued from an alley next to Kotwali’s Rangam Convention Hall around 3:30 pm and taken to Chattogram Medical College Hospital, where doctors on duty declared him brought dead.

Demonstrations have since been held in Chattogram and elsewhere in Bangladesh, demanding exemplary punishment for the killers and protesting misinformation spread by some Indian media about the violence.

On November 26, Bangladesh also expressed disappointment over a statement issued by India’s Ministry of External Affairs regarding Chinmoy’s arrest.