"Since the doctors didn't join [their work] by the deadline, they had automatically been sacked," said Dr ASM Fazlul Karim, president of the committee.

He also said preparations were underway to recruit new medical officers on an ad hoc basis to the vacant posts immediately.

Around 44 medical officers of the hospital had enforced an indefinite strike since Tuesday demanding regularisation of jobs, implementation of service rules and reformation of the executive committee by including representatives from the doctors, nurses and other staff.

Following a meeting on Wednesday, the EC served a notice to the agitating medical officers asking them to resume work by 2:30pm on Thursday (today) with the warning that they would be fired if they fail to comply, explained EC president Dr Karim.

One of the agitating doctors, Dr Enamul Haque Chowdhury, however, said they did not receive any letter from the authorities, but a negotiation meeting with the authorities was scheduled for yesterday evening.

The doctors' strike that continued for the third consecutive day (yesterday) caused terrible sufferings to patients in the hospital, said sources.