Health sector reform movement in Barishal: One faction suspends protests

Students of Barishal Government Brojomohon College withdrew their movement for reforms in the country's health sector.

Citing assurances from the Ministry of Health, the students have given the authorities 30 working days to implement their demands. They also warned that any protest causing public suffering would be resisted. However, the other faction has vowed to continue demonstrations, deepening the division within the movement.

Last night (13 August), three students from Brojomohon College marched from their campus to the Nathullabad Central Bus Terminal area to announce their decision.

Movement activist Sabbir Hossain said, "Following assurances from the health adviser's representative team and the director of Sher-e-Bangla Medical College Hospital, we are suspending our protest for 30 working days. We expect our demands to be fulfilled within that period; otherwise, we will return to the streets."

He noted that Brojomohon College students had been at the forefront of the movement for 17 days and that the decision to suspend protests was taken collectively. Sabbir added that the Director General of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) had sent a delegation to meet the protesting students, speak with prominent figures in Barishal, and assure them that all demands would be met. Some visible measures had already been taken by the hospital director, he said.

Despite this, he warned, "If anyone causes public suffering in the name of the movement, we will collectively resist them."

In response, movement coordinator Mohiuddin Rony said, "We welcome those who have withdrawn, but we are not yet convinced. Our movement will continue. On Thursday, we will hold a mass hunger strike alongside a blockade program."

Meanwhile, two students, Imran and Toukir, who were on an indefinite hunger strike in front of the hospital, fell ill and were admitted to the medicine ward.

Earlier, tensions within the movement escalated after clashes between senior and junior students of Brojomohon College left eight people injured, including Rony. The next day, the DGHS Director General visited Barishal, announced they would accept the students' demands, and instructed the local administration to take action against any protest that caused public hardship.

Earlier, protesters blocked the Dhaka-Barishal highway near Nothullabad bus terminal and Sadar Road in Barishal city for six days to press home their three-point demand, including the end of syndicate and irregularities in the health sector of the country.