BCS specialist doctors call off strike over pending promotions after govt’s assurance

The Bangladesh Civil Service (Health) Cadre Specialist Doctors' Forum has suspended its strike over pending promotions following a commitment from Dr Sayedur Rahman, special assistant at the Ministry of Health.

However, the doctors warned that if the government fails to fulfil its promise within the stipulated time, they will resume their strike.

The announcement was made through a press release at around 11:45am today (8 March).

According to the statement, the nationwide strike by specialist doctors working in government hospitals began today at 10am, demanding promotions and the elimination of all forms of discrimination.

As part of the programme, doctors were scheduled to hold silent protests in front of hospitals for two hours on 8, 9 and 10 March.

Later, Sayedur Rahman announced to the media that within the next 12 weeks, promotion arrangements would be made for 7,500 specialist doctors through the creation of supernumerary positions for assistant, associate, and professor posts.

He also stated that the first phase of promotions would be completed within the next five to six weeks.

Earlier, the forum demanded that the Ministry of Health expedite the promotion process for all eligible specialist doctors, ensuring fairness and impartiality.

They further requested that those eligible for grade 3 be sequentially granted grades 2 and 1 within a specified timeframe, with all due benefits.