Postgraduate private trainee doctors staged a protest at Shahbagh intersection this afternoon, demanding an increase in their monthly stipend from Tk 25,000 to Tk 50,000.
The demonstration disrupted traffic movement, causing significant inconvenience to commuters, many of whom were forced to walk to their destinations.
The protesters said they initially gathered at BSMMU around 10:00 am before marching to Shahbagh.
"We have been demanding a stipend hike for a long time, but our calls have gone unheard," said one of the protesting doctors. "We will continue our protest here until our demand is met."
The doctors argued that their current stipend is inadequate given the rising cost of living.
"With soaring prices of essentials, Tk 25,000 is no longer enough to survive. We need the stipend increased to Tk 50,000. Previously, the government raised our allowance from Tk 20,000 to Tk 25,000, but it's still insufficient," one protester explained.
They also highlighted how their earlier protests for salary increases were politicised under the previous regime, falsely labeled as movements linked to Jamaat-Shibir.
"In this new Bangladesh, we reject all forms of discrimination. We demand fair treatment and a proper increase in doctors' salaries," said another doctor at the protest.