19 nurses fall sick as hunger strike continues
At least 19 nurses have so far fallen sick yesterday as they continue fast-unto-death programme in front of the National Press Club demanding their recruitment on the basis of academic seniority and merit. Unemployed nurses under the banner of Bangladesh Diploma Bekar Nurses Association (BDBNA), Bangladesh Basic Graduate Nurses Society (BBGNS) have been observing the programme since Thursday evening. Three nurses Nasrin Akhter, Minara Aktar and Parveen Aktar have been admitted to Dhaka Medical College and Hospital (DMCH) and rest are being given saline treatment on the spot till filing of the report. We hold different programmes for 26 days but the authorities did not respond to our demands yet, BDBNAs secretary general Faruk Hossain told The Independent. The nurses have been protesting a recent 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. 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 Shahabagh intersection of the capital. The nurses laid siege to 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.
