Medical students block Shahbagh, demand resolving session jam

A section of medical students took position on Shahbagh intersection in the capital to press home their three-point demand including reduction of session jam.

The students under the banner of "General Medical and Dental Students" demonstrated, blocking the road around 10:00am today.

They also demanded an alternative to professional examinations during the coronavirus pandemic.

Considering safety of medical students, they demanded online classes so that there would be no session jam.

Photo: Palash Khan

Around 400 medical and dental students took to the street as per their pre-declared programme and said that they would not go till their demands are met, our photojournalist reports from the spot.

According to the students, Directorate General and Health Service (DGHS) issued a notice on October 27 about taking examinations of MBBS and BDS on the third week of December.

The academic activities of the medical colleges have been closed like other educational institutions due to the coronavirus pandemic, they said.

"Though the government took different measures to run educational activities, it decided to take medical examinations and it is a risky to us," they said.

They also said that it is too hard to stay in a single room for three to four students following health guidelines.

"We also use a common bathrooms and basins," they said, adding that according to the health experts a second wave of coronavirus is coming in the winter season.

There is a frustration among the medical students and the authorities have been putting pressure to pay fees though the hostels while classes remain closed, they alleged.

The authorities concerned have not taken any measures in this regard yet, they said.