Patient death at Pabna Mental Hospital sparks negligence allegations and homicide investigation
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A 26-year-old patient died at the Pabna Mental Hospital following a violent altercation with another patient, sparking allegations of gross negligence against the facility’s administration. Injamul Haque, who was admitted to the hospital’s admission ward on June 2, was found dead in the early hours of June 3 after reportedly striking his head against a wall during a struggle with another patient, Nazmul Islam.
The victim’s brother, Md. Ejazul Haque, discovered the body hours later, noting it had been left on the floor near a bathroom with blood visible on the victim’s head and face. Ejazul, who has since filed a murder case at the Pabna Sadar Police Station, questioned how two patients with a history of severe mental health struggles could be left unsupervised. He argued that the hospital staff failed in their duty to protect vulnerable patients, specifically noting that the accused, Nazmul, had been restrained with chains during his initial admission.
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Concerns regarding hospital management were further compounded by the conflicting accounts of the accused’s treatment. Nazmul’s uncle, Rakibur Hossain, reported that the hospital initially attempted to discharge Nazmul and send him home shortly after the incident, only to reverse the decision after learning a police case had been filed. The family expressed confusion over how such an attempt could be made while a criminal investigation was pending.
Pabna Sadar Police Officer-in-Charge Md. Tarikul Islam confirmed the filing of the case and stated that the accused remains under medical supervision at the hospital. Police have instructed the facility not to release the suspect until legal procedures regarding his mental capacity and potential culpability are addressed by the courts.
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Hospital administration, represented by Resident Medical Officer Dr. Md. Salim Morshed, denied allegations of negligence. He stated that both patients suffered from schizophrenia and that hospital staff attempted to intervene during the late-night scuffle. Dr. Morshed asserted that managing violent psychiatric patients is inherently dangerous, as they often exhibit extraordinary physical strength. He clarified that the hospital does not use CCTV cameras in wards to protect patient privacy, leaving the exact circumstances of the fatal incident dependent on ongoing investigations.
The incident has reignited long-standing criticisms regarding staffing shortages and systemic failures at the 500-bed Pabna Mental Hospital. Despite its size, the facility faces acute resource constraints, and its current protocol of housing aggressive patients in communal admission wards without constant individual surveillance has come under intense scrutiny. Health officials have noted they are investigating whether standard protocols were followed and why the facility lacks essential monitoring systems like CCTV to ensure patient safety.
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