Agitation by trainee nurses paralyses MNC activities
Trainee nurses at Mymensingh Nursing College (MNC) continued agitation including class boycott for five days yesterday protesting the attack on them by the fourth class employees of Mymensingh Medical College and Hospital on Monday last.
All academic activities including examinations remained suspended since the incident, students said vowing to continue their programme until their demands are met.
Earlier, the students staged a sit-in, formed human chain and held protest rally on the college campus and in front of Mymensingh Press Club to press home their demands.
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.
At least 35 people were injured as trainee nurses and employees of MMCH locked in a series of clashes on June 13. Among the injured, 30 are students of Mymensingh Nursing College (MNC) and the rest five employees.
Sources said that a six-member probe body headed by Prof Dr Md Motiur Rahman of surgery department, formed after the incident, is scheduled to submit its report today.
The students said that no representative of nurses was included in the probe body and so, they are not hopeful of a fair investigation.
The students also alleged that they are being threatened over cell phone 'by hired goons' to give up their demands.
MMCH nurses under the banner of Bangladesh Diploma Nurses Association (BDNA) also went on token strike on June 15 demanding punishment to culprits who attacked the trainee nurses at the hospital.
They returned to their work on June 17 following assurance from the leaders of Bangladesh Medical Association (BMA) on Thursday of finding a fruitful solution soon.
"We will go for tougher action including indefinite strike if our demands are not met soon", said Nazma Khatun, secretary of BDNA local unit.
Sources said, the trainee nurses on June 13 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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