Thursday | 20 March 2025 | Reg No- 06
Bangla
   
Bangla | Thursday | 20 March 2025 | Epaper
BREAKING: ● Khaleda may return home in mid-April      ● Not Delhi, Bangladeshi citizens can get Australian visas in Dhaka       ● US welcomes interim govt's measures to ensure safety, security for all      ● Tarique, Babar among 8 acquitted in bribery case      ● EU Ambassador meets BNP leaders      ● Bangladesh lags behind Myanmar-Sri Lanka in the list of happiest countries      ● Ambassador Mushfiqul requests Mexican President for opening embassy in Dhaka      

Police baton-charge MATS students during long march to secretariat

Students vow to persist in their movement

Published : Monday, 10 February, 2025 at 12:00 AM  Count : 379
Staff Correspondent
Police have dispersed students of the Medical Assistant Training School (MATS) by charging baton as they started long march towards the Secretariat, demanding the fulfillment of their four-point demands.

The incident took place in front of the Education Building on Sunday afternoon. Several students were injured in the incident and were rushed to Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH).

DMCH's police outpost in-charge Inspector Md Faruk told the media that at least 15 injured students were brought to the emergency department of DMCH from in front of the secretariat. They are currently undergoing treatment.

The injured students are -- Mehrab (20) of Naogaon MATS, Ershadul Haque (30) of Prime MATS, Zahidul Hasan (26) of Shyamoli MATS, Sohag (22), Amanullah (20), Saima (21) of Trauma MATS, Sumaiya Khatun (20), Tahmina Akhter Toma (20), Mohammad Russell (23) of Barisal Zamzam MATS, Shihab (20) of Gazipur MATS and Arafat (21) of Kushtia MATS, Zahid Hasan (21), Naeem (25) of Tangail Sohrab Uddin MATS, Sayem (20) of Bagerhat MATS and Breaking News staff reporter Anwarul Islam Shimul (28).

Eyewitnesses said that the MATS students were going to surround the secretariat with a procession from Shahbagh intersection in the capital. When the procession reached in front of the Education Building, the police stopped them and then dispersed them with batons. At that time, the sound of a sound grenade was heard. Later, the students moved towards Shahbagh.

Earlier, around 11 am, students of the MATS students blocked a road in the capital's Shahbagh area pushing for four points. They said that despite protesting for three long months by suspending academic and administrative activities, their demands were not met. Therefore, they have started a protest on the streets with four demands.

Later, 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 government Health Adviser Nurjahan Begum at the Ministry of Health around 3:30 PM.

The four key demands of the MATS students are -- 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; Correction of inconsistencies in the 2021 curriculum, revision of internship logbooks, and resolution of issues related to institutional and course name changes; Provision of higher education opportunities in clinical subjects recognized by the Bangladesh Medical and Dental Council (BMDC); and 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.



LATEST NEWS
MOST READ
Also read
Stronger climate policies needed to protect people, ecosystem: Experts
Prepare to ensure peaceful election, Prof Yunus to police
Nahid calls for consensus to end 'Mujibbadi' politics in BD
Tarique warns of threats to democracy, vows to uphold country's secular character
Massive rise in default loans of 11 banks
Man to die for rape, murder of girl in Dohar 
No suspension of Umrah visas for Bangladeshis: Adviser
Court orders to freeze 163 bank accounts of journo Nayeemul, family
Editor : Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury
Published by the Editor on behalf of the Observer Ltd. from Globe Printers, 24/A, New Eskaton Road, Ramna, Dhaka.
Editorial, News and Commercial Offices : Aziz Bhaban (2nd floor), 93, Motijheel C/A, Dhaka-1000.
Phone: PABX- 41053001-06; Online: 41053014; Advertisement: 41053012.
E-mail: [email protected], news©dailyobserverbd.com, advertisement©dailyobserverbd.com, For Online Edition: mailobserverbd©gmail.com
🔝
close