350 service providers at CMCH lose jobs
Around 350 service providers at Chattogram Medical College Hospital became unemployed as the authorities asked the informally appointed workers not to join workplace on Wednesday.
The incident came to light yesterday when around 100 of the service providers gathered at the CMCH and tried to convince the authorities.
There is no scope for such service providers, who are called “ayas and ward boys”, to enjoy any official payment. They take small monetary tips from patients.
Attendants of patients frequently allege that these people used to force them to give Tk 100 to Tk 200 for every service, said CMCH officials.
However, the charge, as per conditions of their verbal appointment, should be within Tk 30, they said.
The unemployed persons, who were not allowed to meet the CMCH authorities yesterday, expressed their helplessness.
Abdul Aziz, 31, one of those who gathered at the hospital premises, said he joined the hospital's emergency department in 2016.
“I used to work in trawlers before. I quit that job as I needed to stay at sea for months. But now I am jobless,” he said.
When asked about the allegation against them, Aziz said some violated the rule but most of them used to follow it.
Similarly, Achhia Begum, who had been working at the medicine ward since 2014, said the authorities suddenly asked them to leave the hospital. “Now how will I maintain my family and the expenses of two children's education?”
She said they used to enter the hospital at 7am and clean the basement and toilets without any charge.
Besides, they do not take any tips from many patients -- mostly road accident victims, she said.
Dr Akhterul Islam, deputy director of CMCH, said, “When we hold public hearings at the hospital, most of the allegations are against the ayas and ward boys by the patients.”
“So, we appointed a total of 203 service providers through outsourcing,” he said.
However, those who followed the rule can be included in the new batch, he added.
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