Strike called off following HC directive
Doctors, teachers, and interns of Bangladesh Medical College Hospital (BMCH) yesterday withdrew their ongoing strike at the directive of the High Court.
Their decision came hours after the HC bench of Justice Quazi Reza-Ul Hoque and Justice Mohammad Ullah passed an order asking the BMCH doctors to withdraw their strike within six hours yesterday.
The HC bench issued the directive around 12:00 noon after hearing a petition filed by Prof Niaz Ahmed Chowdhury, an honorary secretary of Bangladesh Medical Studies and Research Institute (BMSRI) -- the parent body of BMCH -- seeking necessary directives for the withdrawal of the strike.
Prof Nafis Ahmed Chowdhury, director of BMCH, told The Daily Star that the doctors and others withdrew the strike and joined work from 4:00pm to comply with the court order.
The petitioner's lawyer Eunus Ali Akond told The Daily Star that the doctors, teachers, and interns of BMCH led by its principal enforced a strike since March 15, protesting the transfer of a medical officer to its Uttara branch from Dhanmondi branch.
Their strike is illegal, as they cannot stop work and they are bound to discharge their duties in accordance with the relevant law, he added.
The doctors, teachers and interns began the strike on March 15, a day after Dr Saiful Islam -- a medical officer of BMCH in Dhanmondi -- was transferred to Uttara Adhunik Medical College Hospital, which is a sister concern of BMCH.
Prof Rouf Sarder, who was recently removed from his additional duty as a director by the BMSRI, confirmed it to The Daily Star recently.
Around three months back, a number of doctors and teachers complained to the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) about alleged corruption of several BMSRI staff and the transfer of Dr Saiful was a result of that, he said.
However, Prof Nafis, director of BMCH, said they had transferred Dr Saiful for his “unruly behaviour”.
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