Students of Medical Assistant Training Schools (MATS) have started a long march towards the Secretariat, demanding the fulfillment of their four-point demands.
However, their march was met with police resistance, leading to baton charges that left several students injured.
The clash took place at 4:45 PM on Sunday, in front of the Education Building, where police resorted to baton charges to disperse the protesters.
Eyewitnesses reported that as the students tried to break through police barricades and proceed towards the Secretariat, scuffles broke out between them and law enforcement. The situation escalated when police used batons and sound grenades, forcing the protesters to scatter and retreat to Shahbagh.
The long march had initially started at 4:15 PM from Shahbagh, where students pushed through police barricades despite resistance. They accused the Ministry of Health of misleading them with false assurances. �The ministry is once again dangling empty promises before us. We demand an immediate resolution to our issues today�we do not want to protest in the streets anymore,� the students declared.
Meanwhile, a meeting was ongoing at the Ministry of Health at 4:00 PM with representatives of the protesting students. When asked why they were still marching towards the Secretariat, student leader Shariful Islam stated, �It is unacceptable to hold a meeting at the ministry while keeping us waiting at Shahbagh. We must be included in the discussion, and we will only leave the streets once the Health Adviser publicly announces the acceptance of our demands.�
Earlier, at 2:00 PM, Tuhin Farabi, a personal officer of the Health Adviser, visited the students at Shahbagh. He assured them that a circular regarding the recruitment of Sub-Assistant Community Medical Officers would be issued within two days and invited representatives for discussions. Following this, a five-member delegation, including Ahmad Ullah Mansur, Mujahidul Islam, Hasibul Islam Shanto, Shamimur Rahman Sagar, and Azharul Haque Ramim, met with Interim Health Adviser Nurjahan Begum at the Ministry of Health around 3:30 PM.
At 1:10 PM, MATS students had given the government a one-hour ultimatum, warning of a long march towards the Secretariat if their demands were not met. Having received no response, they initiated their march later in the afternoon.
The four key demands of the MATS students are:
1. Immediate recruitment to vacant positions in the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) and the Directorate General of Family Planning, along with the creation of the post of Sub-Assistant Community Medical Officer in community clinics. 2. Correction of inconsistencies in the 2021 curriculum, revision of internship logbooks, and resolution of issues related to institutional and course name changes. 3. Provision of higher education opportunities in clinical subjects recognized by the Bangladesh Medical and Dental Council (BMDC). 4. Revision of the proposed Allied Health Professional Board draft law, including changes to its name and other necessary amendments.
As tensions continue to rise, law enforcement remains on high alert while students vow to persist in their movement until their demands are met.
