Students of the Medical Assistants Training School (MATS) again Shahbagh intersection to press home their four-point demands, including the recruitment to vacant 10th-grade positions in government jobs, which were not fulfilled within the stipulated seven working days.
The agitators warned that they will not leave road until their demands are met.
The students gathered at the Shahbagh intersection around 11AM and began chanting slogans about their demands.
At first they thronged at Farmgate and, later, marched towards Shahbagh, suspending vehicular movement in the whole area.
The students took position on the road in front of the museum around 11:15AM.
They alleged that they did not find any visible steps taken by the government in the stipulated seven working days, though the health ministry earlier assured them.
According to a written commitment from the Ministry of Health, these demands were supposed to be met.
The students also said that currently, 16 government MATS and nearly 200 private MATS institutions are offering the Diploma in Medical Assistance (DMFA) course. According to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, around 5,000 diploma-level medical officers are working in Upazila Health Complexes, Union Sub-Health Centers, Union Health and Family Welfare Centers, and district hospitals.
The four-point demands 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.
TF
