Students from 11 Bangladeshi universities staged simultaneous human chain protests on Sunday, demanding reforms to protect the professional rights and hierarchy of veterinarians in the public health sector.

The demonstrations, organized by the Bangladesh Veterinary Students' Welfare Association (BVSWA), spanned institutions including Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU), Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Sylhet Agricultural University, Gazipur Agricultural University, Gono University, Hajee Mohammad Danesh Science and Technology University, Teesta University, Patuakhali Science and Technology University, Jashore University of Science and Technology, Khulna Agricultural University and Mawlana Bhashani Science and Technology University. The main rally was held at noon outside the BAU Central Library in Mymensingh.

Protesters raised three demands: swift recruitment of four veterinary surgeons per upazila, with posts reserved for registered veterinarians; creation of "Upazila Veterinary Public Health Officer" positions before any "Assistant Veterinary Public Health Officer" roles are filled, with non-veterinarians and diploma holders barred from direct appointment; and a ban on promoting non-veterinarians to ranks equal to or above registered veterinarians.

"According to the Bangladesh Veterinary Council Act, all veterinary decision-making authority rests solely with registered veterinarians, while para-vets operate under their direct supervision in supportive roles," BVSWA General Secretary Burhan Uddin Siam told the rally. "Appointing higher-secondary or diploma-level candidates to these responsibilities compromises professional standards, public health, and animal welfare."

Noman Nishat, BVSWA's joint general secretary, confirmed the nationwide action. A second-year veterinary science student, Labannya, said assigning diploma holders to assistant health officer posts disrupts professional hierarchy and called for clearer task boundaries.

BVSWA senior joint general secretary Saif Arman referenced Prime Minister Tarique Rahman's stated commitment to animal welfare and urged the government to act on pledges by State Minister for Fisheries and Livestock Sultan Salauddin Tuku to create veterinary posts at the upazila and union levels.