DHAKA, Dec 10: Health assistants in Bangladesh continued their sit-in for the 12th consecutive day on Wednesday outside the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), demanding amendments to recruitment rules, an end to salary discrimination, and recognition of technical status.
The protest, led by the Bangladesh Health Assistant Association and involving 26,000 frontline workers, including health assistants, assistant health inspectors and health inspectors — has caused significant disruption to health services nationwide.
Participants have been observing full-day work abstention since November 29, beginning at Dhaka’s Shaheed Minar before shifting to the DGHS premises.
Association leaders said the protest would continue until the government issues an official order addressing their six-point charter of demands.
Despite a meeting with authorities on November 30, workers reported no progress, stating that senior officials who heard their concerns failed to provide solutions.
The work stoppage has reportedly shut down around 120,000 temporary vaccination centres, leaving mothers and children without essential vaccines and severely affecting rural health services.
Workers warned that prolonged disruption could heighten the risk of infectious diseases among vulnerable populations.
The protest comes amid broader unrest under the Yunus-led interim government, as Bangladesh faces economic strain and worsening labour conditions. (IANS)
