For the twelfth successive day, health assistants in Bangladesh have taken a stand outside the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) in Dhaka, holding a sit‑in that has begun to disrupt medical services in several districts. The protest, organised by the Bangladesh Health Assistant Association, involves about 26,000 frontline workers—including health assistants, assistant health inspectors, and health inspectors—who have refused to work for an entire day each day since the start of the campaign.
They are demanding a six‑point charter that calls for changes to recruitment rules, a halt to pay discrimination, and the conferment of technical status, among other points. According to Fazlul Haque Chowdhury, Member‑Secretary of the Association’s Central Coordination Committee, the demonstrations will continue until a government order (G.O.) resolves their concerns.
“Our file has already been sent to the Ministry of Public Administration. We hope the government will seriously consider the demands of frontline workers who serve the grassroots. Once the G.O. is issued, we will return to our workplaces,” Bangladeshi media outlet UNB quoted Chowdhury as saying.
The stoppage began on November 29 at the Shaheed Minar in Dhaka and has since spread to the DGHS premises, drawing health workers from districts across the country. After an encounter with government officials on November 30 that failed to yield any progress, the workers resumed their indefinite work abstention.
Chowdhury explained, “We will also spend the night here tonight. The health advisor had called us for a meeting, but he did not meet us. Rather, an additional and joint secretary heard our points but could not give any solutions. We will continue our work stoppage.”
Reports indicate that the protest has forced the shutdown of roughly 120,000 temporary vaccination sites, hampering immunisation efforts for mothers and children, while rural health services have suffered severe disruption nationwide. The health assistants warn that if the crisis persists, the risk of infectious diseases among mothers and children will rise.
The unrest comes amid a wave of demonstrations under the Yunus‑led interim government, as economic slowdown and worsening working conditions fuel widespread discontent.
Stay informed on all the latest news, real-time breaking news updates, and follow all the important headlines in world News on Latest NewsX. Follow us on social media Facebook, Twitter(X), Gettr and subscribe our Youtube Channel.
