Students of the Medical Assistant Training School (MATS) staged a sit-in protest at Shahbagh on Sunday, demanding the fulfilment of their four-point demands after previous assurances from the health ministry remained unfulfilled.
The demonstration began at 10:30 AM, with students occupying the Dhaka University to Shahbagh Road rather than blocking the main intersection.
The students stated that they had previously paused their protests after the health ministry requested seven days to address their concerns. However, with no visible progress made, they have resumed their demonstrations and vowed to continue until a draft policy is formulated.
MATS student Hasan Al Hasan expressed his frustration, saying, “We just want recognition. MATS students have no identity, no job opportunities. Where do we go from here? We are serving patients without pay during our internships, yet there is no assurance of employment. If the system does not recognize us as doctors, at least provide us with a job and an identity.”
Another protester, Israil Hossain Nobel, added, “If the health ministry does not provide a draft policy today, our movement will continue. Even after seven days, they have shown no visible action.”
The students’ four demands are:
- Immediate recruitment – Fill vacant positions and create new posts.
- Institution and curriculum revision – Rename the institution and update the course curriculum.
- Higher education opportunities – Allow higher studies in clinical subjects.
- Independent education board – Establish a separate Medical Education Board of Bangladesh.
