Emergency departments of private hospitals or clinics refuse to provide treatment for any such wounds. The management mostly fears the medical officer might be obliged to attend court as a witness and verify the nature of patients' injuries.

Authorities of several private clinics said if they provide treatment for such an injury, they do not issue medical certificates to avoid legal complication.

Parvez (pseudonym), a grievously wounded patient who recently was hit by a stray bullet in a shootout in a city suburb, was first taken to a private hospital in old Dhaka. But the hospital refused to treat his wound.

Profusely bleeding, the unconscious young boy, hit in his abdomen, was rushed to another nearby clinic. The attending doctors on examining the injury after a lapse of over ten minutes referred the patient to Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) where Parvez finally received treatment.

There are numerous instances of such incidents but still the hospitals go along, as their acts go unpunished.

Since the private clinics or hospitals do not admit such patients, there is no official record as to how many patients have been refused. But records in the DMCH emergency show that in last 100 days 113 bullet-hit, 54 stabbed and 26 bomb-injured patients have received treatment.

Investigations show that most of the patients from around the city, refused, hopped from private hospitals to clinics and finally arrived at the DMCH. Many of the fatally injured patients died at the DMCH due to late admission.

The Directorate of Health Services, which issues registration for private clinics and hospitals, is reluctant to enforce law that clearly states that all clinics and hospitals are obliged to provide emergency medical treatment irrespective of the nature of ailment.

Dr Abdur Rashid, director of Hospitals and Clinics, said, "Refusing treatment for bullet, stab or bomb injuries is not a criminal offence as the Hospital and Clinic Ordinance has not specified what sort of medical intervention a hospital or clinic must provide."

"If policy of a clinic or hospital prohibits treating such patients, I think it's justified," Dr Rashid added.

Asked about violation of law, he said, "An emergency medical officer (EMO) is not obliged to provide treatment. He can always refer, if need be, bullet, bomb or stab injury cases to another hospital."

Rashid, however, said, "We (health directorate) only issue licences. Taking action against any person is not our job. At best, I can issue a warning letter."

An investigation reveals many clinics and hospitals have been set up that have no emergency unit nor adequate number of EMOs. Some private clinics in the city also lack sound operating theatre.

When contacted, Advocate Elina Khan said, "There is no reason why a private clinic or hospital should refuse to treat bullet, stab or bomb injury. The clinics are supposed to provide all sorts of medical care to the public and are violating the country's law by refusing treatment."

Mitford, National, DMCH and Shaheed Suhrawardy general hospitals are the only choices for anyone fighting for their life.