On Wednesday evening, notices were pasted on notice boards and walls of the hospital, notifying people of the prohibition.

The notice read, "For information of all concerned, the entrance of journalists on the hospital compound has been prohibited for unavoidable reasons. Photojournalists would also not be allowed to take photos without permission."

The notice went on to say that legal actions would be taken against any journalists trying to enter the hospital premises without permission taken prior to the visit.

RMCH Director Bozle Kader also asked the police to arrest any journalists trying to enter the hospital compound to collect information or take photographs, sources said.

After the notice was pasted, Shamshur Rahman Rumi, a photojournalist of local daily Sonar Desh, went to the hospital to take photographs of the notice but Rajpara police detained him. He was, however, released after an hour when his colleagues rushed to the RMCH campus.

Meanwhile, Rajshahi Journalists Union, Rajshahi Photojournalists Association and journalists of Rajshahi protested the RMCH authorities decision to prohibit the entrance of newsmen inside the hospital. They demanded immediate withdrawal of the prohibition.

The director of the hospital was reluctant to talk to journalists and receive phone calls from them.