Khulna (South) Correspondent :
A mobile court led by the Executive Magistrate Md. Al Mamun awarded punishment to 22 brokers including a diagnostic center owner after launching a drive along with the members of Rapid Action Battalion (RAB-6) on Monday at Khulna Medical College Hospital (KMCH).
During the operation , 19female and 3 male brokers were arrested. The arrestees were identified as Laylee Begum, 42, Ranu Begum, 30, Farida Begum,30, Momtaj Begum,42, Nasima Begum,28, Sumi,30, Shafi Begum,55, Romina Begum,40, Salma,30, Sabina Begum,40, Munni Begum,35, Kajol,30, Khadiza Begum,45, Fatema Begum,35, Shapna,30, Rabeya Begum,40, Meherun Nesa,40, Ruma, 35, Farida,30, Md. Ripon,33, Diagnostic Center Owner Md. Selim Sheikh, Canteen owner Md. humayun Kabir. Among the arrestees , Md. Selim Sheikh, proprietor of Sugandha Diagnostic Center was awarded 15 days imprisonment and fined Taka 50 thousands and 15 days more imprisionment in default to pay the fine, Farida was awarded 10 days imprionment,18 brokers were awarded seven days Rigorous Imprisonment, Humayun Kabir, Canteen owner was fined Taka 50 thousands and Ruma, another broker who has a kid, was fined Taka two thousands. Md.Enayet Hossain Mannan, special company commander of RAB-6 told the journalists that at least 300 brokers are active still surrounding Khulna Medical College Hospital. He said adding that if any staff of the hospital are involved in the misdeeds including sale of government medicine to outside markets and taking away patients from the hospital to the private clinics and diagnostic centers, stern action would also be taken against those staffs.
Sensing the presence of the mobile court, assisted by the members of the elite force RAB, some staff-brokers fled away from the scene, RAB sources said.
It is mentionable in this connection that on September 14, 2017, members of RAB-6 conducted drive and arrested eight brokers.
One Shahidul Islam, resident of Dumuria area told this correspondent that he had taken his cousin Shariful Islam to this (KMCH) hospital, but some brokers took away them to a private clinic tempting to give better treatment while they had to expend around Taka 5000 for different tests.
Another female patient Kulsum Begum, hailing from a remote village in Koyra Upazila area recently came to KMCH for getting treatment, at that time a nurse named Nargis wanted her taka 2000 alluring her for the better treatment and tempted her to give bed in the hospital.
It is also mentionable here that earlier, the Daily New Nation recently published a report regarding the nuisance to patients by the broker-syndicates who are active at all government hospitals of Khulna city and in Nine Upazila health complexes of Khulna district
