Jobless nurses threaten hunger strike

Unemployed nurses would begin a fast-unto-death programme in front of the National Press Club from April 10 if their demand of being recruited on the basis of academic seniority and merit is not met by April 9.
Nurses under the banner of Bangladesh Basic Graduate Nurses’ Society (BBGNS) and Bangladesh Diploma Bekar Nurses’ Association are already holding a sit-in programme in front of the National Press Club to register protest against a circular issued by the Public Service Commission (PSC).
The circular, which seeks to recruit 3,616 senior nurses through exams, frustrated unemployed nursing graduates who were hoping to be recruited on the basis of year of graduation, merit and seniority.
BBGNS president Rajib Kumar Biswas told The Independent that the authorities concerned have not responded to their demand. “We'll continue our sit-in till April 9. If our demand isn't met by then, we'll resort to hunger strike from the very next day,” he said.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the country needs about two lakh nurses. But right now, there are only 20,500 registered care-givers. Since 2009, the Awami League (AL)-led government has appointed 6,500 nurses in two phases on the basis of their years of graduation, merit and seniority.  But, on March 28, the PSC published an advertisement, saying that 3,616 nurses would be recruited through exams.
The unemployed nursing graduates have been demonstrating against the PSC circular from March 30. Around 40 nurses were injured on that day after police charged batons, fired tear gas canisters, and used pepper spray and water cannons on the demonstrators at the Shahabah intersection of the capital.
The nurses gheraoed the office of the Directorate of Nursing Services at Agargaon in Dhaka on April 2. They submitted two memoranda to the Prime Minister and the health minister on April 3.

Jobless nurses threaten hunger strike

Unemployed nurses would begin a fast-unto-death programme in front of the National Press Club from April 10 if their demand of being recruited on the basis of academic seniority and merit is not met by April 9. Nurses under the banner of Bangladesh Basic Graduate Nurses Society (BBGNS) and Bangladesh Diploma Bekar Nurses Association are already holding a sit-in programme in front of the National Press Club to register protest against a circular issued by the Public Service Commission (PSC). The circular, which seeks to recruit 3,616 senior nurses through exams, frustrated unemployed nursing graduates who were hoping to be recruited on the basis of year of graduation, merit and seniority. BBGNS president Rajib Kumar Biswas told The Independent that the authorities concerned have not responded to their demand. Well continue our sit-in till April 9. If our demand isnt met by then, well resort to hunger strike from the very next day, he said. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the country needs about two lakh nurses. But right now, there are only 20,500 registered care-givers. Since 2009, the Awami League (AL)-led government has appointed 6,500 nurses in two phases on the basis of their years of graduation, merit and seniority. But, on March 28, the PSC published an advertisement, saying that 3,616 nurses would be recruited through exams. The unemployed nursing graduates have been demonstrating against the PSC circular from March 30. Around 40 nurses were injured on that day after police charged batons, fired tear gas canisters, and used pepper spray and water cannons on the demonstrators at the Shahabah intersection of the capital. The nurses gheraoed the office of the Directorate of Nursing Services at Agargaon in Dhaka on April 2. They submitted two memoranda to the Prime Minister and the health minister on April 3.