Newly recruited employees of Barishal Sher-e-Bangla Medical College Hospital yesterday staged demonstration and held rally on the hospital remises demanding their salaries.

They also organised a sit-in programme in front of the office of director of the hospital and chanted slogans in favour of their demands. Later, police rushed to the spot and take the situation under control.

Modasser Kabir, president of the class four employee’s welfare association of SBMCH, presided over the programmes.

He said the hospital authorities recruited 215 class III and IV employees on December 12, 2015. But the health ministry suspended the joining process of the newly recruited employees on January 18, 2016.

Then the employees went to High Court against the decision of the ministry and the court ordered in favour of the employees. Later, Supreme Court dismissed the appeal of the government against the order, he added.

Health ministry secretary and director general of health directorate as per court order asked SBMCH director to accept joining of the newly recruited employees on February 6, 2018 and they joined in service within February 24 of this year.

However, the employee leader added that the newly recruited employees joined in the service completing all official formalities, but yet not gets any salary and passing days with family members under severe condition.

He further said, “If the hospital authorities would not give their salaries within June 30, they will go for indefinite hunger strike from July 1”.

Dr Baqir Hussain, director of SBMCH, acknowledging the fact, said that due to fund crisis and completion of some other formalities, they did not give the salaries and other arrears of the newly recruited employees.

“We have sent letters to the health ministry and directorate in this regard and after getting reply of the letters we’ll take necessary steps,” the director added.