GAU vet students demand reforms, strong field services

GAZIPUR, Sept 20: Students of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine at Gazipur Agricultural University (GAU) formed a human chain on Sunday, demanding structural reforms in the veterinary profession, stronger field-level services and protection of the rights and professional identity of registered veterinarians.

The programme began at 11 am at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, the university’s administrative building and the main gate. 

The students said veterinary professionals play a vital role in ensuring the country’s animal-protein supply through research, clinical services and scientific planning. However, field-level veterinary services have not expanded in line with the growth of the livestock sector, universities and the number of veterinary graduates, they said.

They noted that the post of Thana Assistant Veterinary Surgeon (TAVS) was introduced in the 1960s to provide veterinary services at the upazila level and was later incorporated into the cadre structure as Veterinary Surgeon, Grade 9, in 1983-84. Nearly six decades later, generally only one veterinary surgeon is responsible for treatment and services across an entire upazila, the students said.

The demonstration followed a government initiative to create 492 Assistant Veterinary Public Health Officer posts under upazila livestock offices and veterinary hospitals. The students welcomed stronger public health services but raised concerns about the proposed posts’ grade, recruitment criteria and professional jurisdiction.

They demanded that the posts be upgraded to Grade 9 and restricted to registered veterinarians, that non-veterinary personnel not be promoted to equivalent or higher positions, and that four Veterinary Surgeon posts be created in every upazila with immediate recruitment.