Students of the Medical Assistants Training School (MATS) have blocked the roads in Dhaka's Shahbagh area, protesting to press their four-point demands, including the recruitment to vacant 10th-grade positions in government jobs.
The students gathered at the Shahbagh intersection around 1 PM Wednesday and began chanting slogans about their demands. At one point, many protesters lay down on the road, effectively blocking it. As a result, vehicular movement at the Shahbagh intersection came to a halt, according to Shahbagh Police Station Officer-in-Charge Mohammad Khalid Mansur.
The four-point demands of the MATS students include the immediate recruitment to vacant 10th-grade positions, the creation of new positions in both government and private sectors, and ensuring employment opportunities. They also demand the continuation of the four-year academic course, revision of the curriculum, and the assurance of internships for this year, including stipends.
The protesters claim that despite locking down campuses and protesting for three months, their four logical demands remain unmet, prompting them to take to the streets for demonstrations and road blockades.
Additionally, the students are demanding the cancellation of the proposed Allied Health Professional Board and the establishment of a "Medical Education Board of Bangladesh." They also seek opportunities for higher education in clinical subjects that meet international standards and are recognized by the Bangladesh Medical and Dental Council (BM&DC).
