The government and private Medical Assistant Training Schools (MATS) were closed on Wednesday for an indefinite period amid a student movement to press home a four-point demand.
The government and private Medical Assistant Training Schools were announced shut from today (Wednesday) for an unavoidable reason, a Directorate General of Medical Education notice said.
In the notice, all the students were asked to leave the hostels within the next 24 hours.
Asked about the reasons behind the closure, DGME Acting Director (administration) Dr Mohammad Humayun Kabir could not say any specific cause and said the announcement of closure was made in the direction of higher authority.
However, MATS students had been holding fast-unto-death and sit-in programs in front of the directorate for Tuesday night to press home their four-point demands. The law enforcers brought the situation under control on that night.
The students said they called off their sit-in program in front of the directorate on September 5 after assurance of 15 days given by its director general but their demands are not met despite the 15 days passed.
The demands are as follows:
1. Giving opportunity of higher education as per the 1st Five Year Plan of Bangabandhu;
2. Bringing amendment immediately to the inconsistent course curriculums, including one-year internships, reinstating four-year academic courses;
3. Canceling the Allied Health Education Board and forming a new board named the Medical Education Board of Bangladesh; and
4. Recruiting manpower and creating employment to the vacant posts (Creating posts for passed Diploma in Medical Faculty (DMFs) in all public and private hospitals/clinics, including community clinics and appointing them)
AAM/SU