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The situation escalated into a scuffle, followed by chase and counter-chase. Several people were injured, hospital sources said.

DMCH police outpost in-charge Md Faruk said additional police were deployed to bring the situation under control.

Students present at the scene said the student, Sanim, 23, from DU’s Botany department, returned after failing to find the prescribed medicine and asked the doctor to change the prescription.

“When we went to seek an explanation, 10 to 12 doctors attacked us,” said Mohammad Tanzim, a DU student of the 2023-24 session.

Later, DU Proctor Saifuddin Ahmed visited the hospital and spoke with the DMCH director after hearing details from both sides.

Both sides blamed each other for the incident.

A visit around 6:45pm found doctors inside the emergency department with gates closed, while DU students gathered outside chanting slogans.

Amid the tense standoff, the main gate remained shut, preventing patients from entering. Many seeking urgent care were unable to access the hospital premises.

Emergency treatment partially started around 7:15pm. Non-critical patients were being referred to other units.

However, patients requiring full emergency care, such as delivery cases or serious injuries, had to go to other hospitals. Some left without treatment.

One such patient, Khadija Begum, 22, arrived at the emergency unit around 7:20pm for delivery care. Finding the gate closed, she had to leave for Mitford Hospital.

Meanwhile, a six-member probe committee was formed over the incident. The committee is headed by Professor Dr Nadim Ahmed, dean of the Faculty of Medicine at DU.

DMCH Director Brig Gen Md Asaduzzaman said the committee has been asked to submit its report by Saturday, and action will be taken against those responsible based on the findings.

He said the committee includes representatives from DMCH, DU, and the deputy commissioner of Ramna Division.