Students of Sher-e-Bangla Medical College in Barishal on Monday staged demonstrations, protesting the disruption of academic activities caused by shortage of teachers.
The students locked the main gate of the administrative building of the college in the morning and announced that they would continue the shutdown until their demands were met.
The students put forward two demands: immediate recruitment of teachers for all vacant positions across departments and reinstatement of transferred teachers in the Community Medicine, Microbiology, Pathology, and other departments within 24 hours through an official notice.
Sources at the hospital said 173 out of approved 334 posts for teachers are still vacant.
The lack of sufficient teachers has disrupted academic activities, particularly in departments such as Medicine, Microbiology, Pathology, Physiology, CCU, Gastroenterology, and the Dental unit.
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Meanwhile, the college’s teachers' association submitted a memorandum to the principal, focusing on the teacher shortage, urging the Ministry of Health, Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), Directorate of Medical Education, and other relevant authorities to take immediate actions to resolve it.
Echoing students, the college Principal Dr. Faizul Bashar said they have already discussed the issue with the health ministry, and efforts are underway to resolve the crisis as soon as possible.