Docs, staff block road for arrear salaries

Doctors and staff of Thakurgaon Swasthaseba Hospital block Thakurgaon bus stand--railway station road for an hour from 10:00am yesterday as their indefinite strike demanding payment of their arrear salaries entered the fourth day. PHOTO: STAR

Doctors and staffs at Thakurgaon Swasthoseba Hospital (diabetic) yesterday, the forth day of indefinite strike, blocked the Thakurgaon Bus Stand-Thakurgaon Railway Station road at Thakurgaon Intersection.
They lied down on the road for an hour at 10:00am to realise their demands, including payment of salaries on regular basis with other dues.      
The road blocke followed a discussion where medical officer of the hospital Dr. Nur Alam Mondal, junior technical assistant Madhab Chandra Roy and others spoke.
The speakers threatened to start indefinite hunger strike programme if they were not given all their salaries with other dues immediately.     
Due to the roadblock, different vehicles became stranded on both sides of the road, disrupting normal traffic in the area.
Before blocking the road they also brought out a procession in the town.   
Earlier, the indefinite work abstention programme started on Saturday, demanding payment of nine months' arrear salaries of the doctors and staffs.
Due to the strike, hundreds of patients including those needed eye and surgical treatment suffering a lot. Many patients left the hospital without getting treatment, sources said.
The doctors and staffs said they had been passing hard days with their family members.  
Salaries for nine months of doctors and staffs became pending in the last three years as the authorities did not make payments regularly showing various reasons, they said.