Trainee doctors continue protest despite stipend hike

The government has announced an increase in the stipend for trainee doctors to Tk 35,000 from July. This decision was made during a discussion held at the residence of Dr Syedur Rahman, Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser on Health Ministry Affairs, on Sunday afternoon.

Dr. Mohammad Abdul Ahad and Dr. Humayun Kabir Himu, members of the National Citizen Committee who attended the meeting, confirmed that doctors will receive a stipend of Tk 30,000 from January and Tk 35,000 from July. Despite this announcement, the trainee doctors, who were also present at the meeting, have not backed down from their protest. As of 6 PM, they continued their sit-in at Shahbagh.

A protesting doctor stated that they do not agree with the proposal to increase the stipend to Tk 35,000 from July. They are demanding that the increase take effect immediately, which is why they are still protesting at Shahbagh.

The meeting, led by Dr. Syedur Rahman, Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser on Health Ministry Affairs, was also attended by Dr. Jabir Hossain, President of the Doctors Movement for Justice Society, Dr. Nurunnabi, General Secretary of the same organization, and other leaders of the movement.

Also present at the meeting were Dr. Mohammad Abdul Ahad and Dr. Humayun Kabir Himu from the National Citizen Committee, Dr. Zahirul Islam Shakil, Treasurer of Doctors Association Bangladesh (DAB), Professor Atiar Rahman, Vice President of the National Doctors Forum (NDF), and Dr. Ruhul Kuddus Bipul, Joint Secretary of NDF, among others.