Barishal, March 12 -- e-Bangla Medical College Hospital (SBMCH) in Barishal suspended outpatient services on Wednesday morning as part of an ongoing movement to press their five-point demand, causing immense suffering for hundreds of patients.

Patients said ticket distribution for outpatient services started at 8 am as usual but after handing out 200 to 300 tickets, hospital staff abruptly stopped issuing them.

Doctors left their chambers at 10 am, confirming the work stoppage, they said.

According to hospital sources, around 1,500 to 2,000 people seek treatment at the hospital's outpatient department daily.

Murtuza Alam, a doctor participating in the strike, said, "The protest is being observed nationwide. Since the directive reached...