Jobless nurses clash with police in front of Health Minister Nasim’s home

At least 40 people have been injured when the demonstrating unemployed nurses clashed with police in front of the health minister’s home in Dhaka.

Staff Correspondentbdnews24.com
Published : 1 June 2016, 04:54 PM
Updated : 1 June 2016, 07:47 PM

The conflict ensued when the law enforcers went to move the demonstrators off the street in front of Mohammed Nasim’s home at Dhanmondi on Wednesday night.

Police and the agitators, who gathered in front of the minister’s residence in the afternoon, have blamed each other for the clash.

Bangladesh Basic Graduate Nurses’ Society and Bangladesh Diploma Unemployed Nurses’ Association have been demonstrating for the past few months demanding appointment based on academic seniority, and not through the Public Service Commission (PSC).
 

File Photo

They had also started a hunger strike, but called it off after the health minister on May 1 assured them of meeting their demands.

The students and unemployed nurses resumed the movement when no progress was made over the month.

On Monday, police charged batons to disperse them when they took out a procession and moved towards the Secretariat.

The agitators gathered in front of Nasim’s home asking that they be allowed to meet Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

Basic Graduate Nurses’ Society General Secretary Nahida Akter told bdnews24.com that police dispersed them around 8pm with a baton charge and using water cannons.

She said at least 30 protesters were injured in the police attack. They are being treated at different hospitals.

Sixteen of the injured were taken to Dhaka Medical College Hospital.

DMP’s Dhanmondi zone Assistant Commissioner Ruhul Amin Sagar told bdnews24.com, “The agitators attacked police and hurled bricks when the officials went there to move them.”

He said 10 or 12 policemen including himself were injured.

Nahida Akter said, “The government appointed 4,100 nurses based on their batches in 2013 after upgrading the status of nurses to Class 2 employees. But the government wants to do that through PSC.

“We only want to meet the prime minister. The health minister assures us over and over again, but he does not allow us to meet her,” she added.