MMCH nurses increase duration of strike
No headway yet in resolving crisis
Nurses at Mymensingh Medical College and Hospital (MMCH) on the second day of their agitation yesterday observed a six-hour strike demanding punishment to culprits who attacked trainee nurses at the hospital on Monday.
Earlier, the nurses observed a four-hour strike on Wednesday.
"We will go for an indefinite strike from June 18 if our demands are not met soon", said a leader of the nurses yesterday.
Our emergency squads are working to look after the critical patients, she said adding that the hospital authorities are yet to take any step to resolve the situation.
At least 35 people were injured as trainee nurses and employees of MMCH locked in a series of clashes on Monday. Among the injured, 30 are students of Mymensingh Nursing College (MNC) and the rest five employees.
Boycotting the classes for the third day yesterday, the trainee nurses brought out a silent procession at MNC campus. The students again vowed to continue their programme until their demands are met.
The demands include removal of the MMCH director, arrest of the fourth class employees involved in the attack and beefing up security for the students.
"We feel insecured as the attackers are moving freely at the hospital", said a student nurse.
Meanwhile the employees of MMCH under the banner of Karmachari Oikya Parishad also brought out a procession at the hospital yesterday morning chanting slogans against the nurses and the students of MNC. Later they formed a human chain in front of Mymensingh Medical College.
They demanded punishment of what they said 'unruly students who attacked the room of the director of MMCH'.
Terming the protest rally by the employees a trick to save the hospital director, the nurses told this correspondent that the director did not even come out of his room to save the students from the wrath of the fourth class employees
MMCH director Brigadier General Dr Md. Shahjahan held a meeting with hospital management, doctors and leaders of Bangladesh Medical Association (BMA) at the hospital's conference room yesterday morning.
But the meeting ended without any decision, sources said.
Sources said, the trainee nurses on Monday morning went to meet the hospital director to know the reasons for cancellation of their sick room facilities.
When the students entered the director's room, a group of fourth class employees of the hospital rushed to the spot and asked the students to give them easy passage.
As the students refused to leave the place, an altercation began and at one stage an employee pushed a female student and pulled her scarf triggering a clash, students said.
The employees later swooped on the students and beat them up with sticks indiscriminately, injuring at least 30 students.
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