Four people, including an emergency department doctor and an assistant, were injured after plaster from the underside of the ceiling collapsed at Fulbari Upazila Health Complex in Dinajpur on Wednesday.
The incident occurred at around 12pm on September 16 while 10 to 12 patients and three assistants of the doctor were inside the emergency department.
According to eyewitnesses, the building is nearly 70 years old and its ceiling had been covered with plastic boards. Suddenly, sections of the ceiling plaster fell onto the boards. The plaster and boards then collapsed into the emergency department, striking people inside.
Four people, including emergency department assistant Rafiqul Islam, sustained injuries in the incident.
The injured were given treatment immediately at the health complex. The incident also caused panic among patients and their relatives who were present in the emergency department.
Dr Sazidur Rahman, medical officer at Fulbari Upazila Health Complex, described the incident as an unfortunate accident.
“It was an unexpected accident. Several people were injured when the ceiling plaster collapsed. The injured have been treated.”
He said the incident had been reported to the Dinajpur Civil Surgeon.
People concerned said there had been longstanding concerns over the deteriorating condition of the nearly 70-year-old building. Local residents have called for an immediate inspection of the facility and necessary renovation and safety measures to prevent further accidents.
