Postgraduate trainee doctors lifted their blockade from Shahbagh intersection at 5PM Sunday, announcing that they would resume their movement after Thursday if their demand of raising their monthly allowance from Tk 25,000 to Tk 50,000 is not met by then.
They, however, continue their work abstention programme during the mentioned period.
Dr Jabir Hossain, president of the Doctors Movement for Justice Society, on behalf of the protesting trainee doctors has announced to postpone the blocked prograame. He said that Health Ministry had summoned a delegation of six of the protesting doctors.
Besides, the vice-chancellor of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical College (BSMMU) has expressed his willingness to fulfill their demand. They postponed their blockade till 5PM on Thursday but will continue the work abstention during the period.
Meanwhile, Sarjis Alam, convener of Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, also the chief organiser of the National Citizens' Committee, has expressed his solidarity with the protesting trainee doctors. He said their demands are logical and if their demands are met in the stipulated time frame, they will join the protesting doctors.
The postgraduate trainee doctors have been protesting since 2022 demanding to raise their monthly allowance. In June 2023, more than 500 doctors protested in front of the university’s vice-chancellor’s office. They have held protests at various times, taking up positions at the hospital gates, Shahbagh, and in front of the Central Shaheed Minar.
In response to the protests, the then Awami League government announced in July, 2023 that they would increase their allowance from Tk 20,000 to Tk 25,000.
However, trainee doctors said the allowance was still unreasonable.
One of the protesting trainee doctors said that they got to know that the matter is still pending at the Ministry of Finance. Despite multiple ultimatums, no effective action has been taken.
So they blocked the Shahbagh intersection around 1:30pm to press home their demand.
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