The staffs at Dinajpur, Faridpur, Khulna, Comilla and Shaheed Ziaur Rahman (Bogra) medical colleges have been demonstrating since June 9 as they have not been receiving their salaries for the last 14 months.

The agitation programmes have apparently led to major disruption of treatment facilities in the hospitals attached to the medical colleges as more than half of the agitating staffs are also engaged in the treatment of patients.

Many outdoor patients are seen either waiting or returning home without any consultation with the doctors who remain busy joining the demonstration.

The staffs put on black badges on June 11 to protest the government's indifferent attitude. They also went on work abstention on June 12 and 13 to intensify their agitation programme.

"Without salary, how can I pay attention to the hospital patients. In fact, many of my colleagues like myself have been giving more time to their private practice to make up for loss of earnings," said a young doctor seeking anonymity.

According to sources, despite an order issued by the Prime Minister's Office on April 29, 2004 for transferring the staffs from development budget to revenue budget, the finance and establishment ministries are yet to take any step in this regard.

The sources said the staffs were appointed under a project titled 'Establishment of five Medical Colleges' that started in 1991-92 fiscal. After the project period ended in June 2000, a monitoring cell from the health ministry recommended shifting of the 1200 staffs to revenue budget.

However, in the face of demand for salaries, the government started giving block allocation for disbursement and the salaries were paid every four to six months on average.

Prime Minister Khaleda Zia at a function of the Doctors' Association of Bangladesh (DAB) on April 14, 2004 pledged to transfer the 1200 staffs to revenue budget. And the PMO issued the order on April 29, 2004 asking the ministries concerned to take necessary steps in this regard.

When contacted, an official of the health ministry said that the relevant file is now at the finance ministry. The problem is expected to be solved by next month, he added.