Nurses seek NHRC intervention for timely payment of salary

About 100 nurses of Holy Family Red Crescent Medical College and Hospital yesterday sought intervention from the National Human Rights Commission to solve the problem of late payment of their salaries.
During NHRC Chairman Prof Mizanur Rahman's visit to the hospital, they also urged NHRC to take steps to solve anomalies in providing gratuity and provident fund for the retired nurses.
Gertrude Cruz, a nurse of the hospital, said the hospital authority has not taken any step despite being informed of the nurses' problems repeatedly.
Namita Rodriguez, another nurse who has been serving the hospital since 1983, said a group of nurses went to meet Prof Md Sirajul Islam, the director of the hospital, on August 18. But he refused to talk to them and told them to come the following day, she added.
Despite several attempts, The Daily Star failed to contact Prof Md Sirajul Islam.
NHRC Chairman Prof Mizanur Rahman, after visiting the hospital and speaking to the nurses and hospital authority, said his organisation will take necessary steps as per the  law if any anomaly is found in the hospital.
Contacted, Prof Mohammad Serajul Akbar, chairman of the governing body of Holy Family Red Crescent Medical College, confirmed the late payment of salary allegation but said nurses did not come to him for solutions.
However, he denied anomalies in providing gratuity for the retired nurses.
Prof Akbar claimed that a group of doctors are instigating the nurses and creating instability in the hospital.