Medical students, interns announce 48-hr fresh strike from today

Intern doctors and students from both government and private medical colleges have announced a 48-hour strike, set to begin today (26 February) to press their five-point demands, including restriction of the title "doctor" exclusively to MBBS and BDS degree holders. 

This demonstration will include a sit-in at the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) at 11 am.

Yesterday (25 February), Abdullah Al Noman, a student from Dhaka Medical College, and Tanmoy Hasan, a student from Sir Salimullah Medical College, announced the programme on the High Court premises on behalf of the protesting doctors.

Noman stated, "The High Court has completed the hearing on the writ petition on Tuesday and set the date for the order for 12 March."

Police obstruct their march at High Court gate

Earlier in the day, hundreds of students and interns from both government and private medical colleges began their "March for Justice" programme yesterday, starting from the Central Shaheed Minar.

Around 12:30 pm, law enforcement authorities blocked the march by intern doctors and medical students at the High Court gate. 

Khalid Mansur, Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Shahbagh police station, informed The Business Standard that the protesting doctors and students remained at the High Court gate while a representative team entered the court premises.

Later, the protesting doctors and students announced an additional phase of their strike.

During the strike, they will observe an "academic shutdown," meaning they will refrain from attending any academic activities.

Intern doctors and students have been on strike since 23 February. 

The demonstration was sparked by a longstanding dispute over the designation, with protesters alleging that medical assistants have been unlawfully using the "doctor" title. 

They pointed to a 2013 writ petition filed by medical assistants seeking legal recognition for the title, which remains unresolved after 11 years.  

Alongside their primary demand, the protesters are also advocating for the immediate recruitment of 10,000 doctors and an increase in the BCS job entry age limit to 34 years, Redirecting MATS students to paramedics, and effective implementation of the Doctor Protection Act.

Earlier on 23 February, interns at Rajshahi Medical College Hospital (RMCH), Chittagong Medical College Hospital (CMCH) and Shaheed Ziaur Rahman Medical College Hospital (SZRMCH) in Bogura launched a complete work stoppage to press five demands, disrupting services at the facility.