Medical students across Bangladesh launch ‘academic shutdown’

One of their main demands is that only those with MBBS or BDS degrees be allowed to use the title ‘doctor’

Students from various medical colleges across the country have launched an "academic shutdown" to press for five key demands. One of their main demands is that only those with a Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery, or MBBS, and Bachelor of Dental Surgery, or BDS, degrees be allowed to use the title "doctor".

The protest began on Monday, with many students boycotting their classes. On Sunday, demonstrations took place in various medical colleges, and intern doctors joined in solidarity.

As part of their protest, the students announced an academic shutdown for Monday and a long march to the High Court for Tuesday.

At the Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College, students boycotted their classes and submitted a memorandum to the

hospital director.

Dr Saki Jakiul Alam, principal of Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College, told bdnews24.com: “Students are enforcing an academic shutdown over the MATS issue. However, it’s an issue for the students as no official decision has been made yet.”

Dhaka Medical College also saw its students participating in the boycott. Ishtiaq Uddin Mohammad Taskin, a fifth-year student at Dhaka Medical College, said, "We are participating in the academic shutdown today, so we're staying home or at the hostels."

Earlier this month, students from the Medical Assistants Training Schools, or MATS, held protests in Dhaka, demanding fresh recruitment for vacant 10-grade positions and the creation of new roles in both government and private sectors. Their protests were paused after receiving assurances from the government.

Now, medical students nationwide have taken to the streets to push for their own demands.