Intern doctors at Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College Hospital (OMCH) have called off their strike after 38 hours following assurances from hospital authorities to meet their eight-point demands, including improved workplace security.
The interns are set to resume duties from 8:00 am on Monday, January 19, subject to the promised deployment of Ansar personnel in all hospital wards.
The decision was taken at a meeting between the intern doctors and the hospital administration on Sunday, January 18.
During the meeting, the administration assured the deployment of Ansar personnel in sensitive areas of the hospital and agreed to the remaining demands, leading to the withdrawal of the strike.
Intern doctor Dr Mohammad Sadik said, “We initiated the strike to ensure safety in our workplace. With the administration’s assurances, we are calling off the strike. We will resume duties on Monday at 8:00 am.”
Hospital Director Brigadier General Munir said, “Ensuring the safety of our intern doctors is a top priority. Ansar personnel will be deployed around the hospital on a 24/7 basis, particularly in critical areas.”
The strike began on Friday, January 16, after an altercation between intern doctors and relatives of a patient. Talks with the administration on Saturday failed to reach an immediate resolution, prompting the doctors to formally place their eight-point demands.
Ahmed Jamil/MHK