Students block Shahbagh to demand degree status for nursing, midwifery diplomas

They had initially given the authorities a one-hour deadline to meet their demands, but after receiving no response, they moved to block the key intersection

Nursing students have blocked the Shahbagh intersection, demanding that diploma courses in nursing and midwifery be recognised as equivalent to undergraduate degrees.

Students took to the streets under the banner of the “Diploma in Nursing and Midwifery Degree Implementation Committee” around 2:15pm on Wednesday, severely impeding traffic at the busy intersection.

Abu Sayeed, a nursing student, said: “The existing post-HSC Diploma in Nursing Science and Midwifery and Diploma in Midwifery courses must be immediately recognised and implemented as equivalent to an undergraduate degree.”

Nursing students have been protesting for the past few days to press home their demand.

On Wednesday, the protesting students held a rally in front of the Bangladesh Nursing and Midwifery Council (BNMC) in Dhaka, setting a one-hour deadline for authorities to meet their demands. With no response from the authorities, they blocked the road.

Akash Mia, a member of the Diploma in Nursing and Midwifery Degree Implementation Committee, said: "We were observing a peaceful programme. We gave BNMC an hour to meet our demands. But they did not take any action. So we have taken a stand here. We will not leave until our demands are met."