Strike disrupts academic activities as medical students boycott classes in solidarity

Intern doctors at Chattogram Medical College Hospital (CMCH) have launched an indefinite strike, halting their services to demand the fulfillment of six key points. The strike, organized by the CMCH Intern Doctors Association, commenced this morning after two days of human chain protests.

In a show of solidarity, regular students from Chattogram Medical College (CMC) also boycotted all their classes starting at 11:00 AM. The decision to strike was formally announced in a press release issued early this morning.

The core of the protest revolves around recent directives from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare concerning FCPS training. These include suspending new postings in certain departments, mandating a two-year service period at the upazila level, and introducing a merit-based stipend system. Interns expressed dissatisfaction, stating that while some assurances were given regarding their primary demand, no concrete steps have been taken to address other critical issues.

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Healthcare services at the hospital are not being disrupted due to the interns' strike. We have an adequate number of rostered doctors available to handle the patient rush.

Their six-point charter of demands includes the immediate withdrawal of a May 19, 2026 notification on FCPS training and the issuance of a revised directive. They also call for the enactment and swift implementation of the Healthcare Professionals Protection Act, an increase in the monthly stipend to Tk 30,000, and a separate pay scale for government physicians. Furthermore, they seek an extension of the maximum age limit for the BCS (Health) cadre to 34 years, upgrading the BMDC Act-2025 into a full law, and ensuring strict action against fake physicians while capping admission and examination fees.

Despite the strike, CMCH Director Brigadier General Taslim Uddin asserted that patient care remains unaffected, citing the availability of sufficient rostered doctors to manage the patient load.

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While the authorities tried to reassure us regarding our first demand, no visible steps have been taken by the concerned quarters to address the remaining core issues.