Nurses across the country, including the capital, staged a flag march for a single demand, demanding the removal of non-nurse administrative officers from the positions of director general, director, and president and registrar of the Bangladesh Nursing and Midwifery Council (BNMC).
They are calling for these posts to be filled by highly educated, skilled, and experienced nurses.
The flag march was organized under the banner of the Nursing and Midwifery Reform Committee on Tuesday afternoon.
Protesters reported that since September 9, nurses, midwives, and nursing and midwifery students have been carrying out various programs to push for reforms in the Nursing and Midwifery Directorate and BNMC.
Despite assurances from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on September 11 to address the nurses' demands, a non-nursing administrative officer was reappointed to the Registrar position at BNMC on September 12.
This decision has been seen as exacerbating the ongoing protest, which the nursing community has vehemently rejected.
As part of their continued protest, nurses have ensured that their actions do not disrupt patient care.
They held position and protest demonstrations at the Nursing and Midwifery Directorate and BNMC.
Also, they organized spontaneous black flag marches and protests at all healthcare institutions in Bangladesh (medical college hospitals, specialized hospitals, district hospitals, and upazila health complexes) as well as at all nursing and midwifery educational institutions.
Speakers at the protest issued a stern warning to meet their single-point demand.
They expressed heightened frustration as, despite previous assurances, a non-nursing administrative officer was again appointed as Registrar on September 12, further inflaming the nurses’ discontent.
There are concerns that if the protest continues, it could severely impact the country's healthcare system, particularly if the shortage of nurses hampers patient care, potentially leading to a significant crisis in the nation's health sector.
The Nursing and Midwifery Reform Committee announced that on Wednesday and Thursday from 11am to 12pm, they will hold ‘Stay for One Point Demand’ programs in front of local administrative buildings at all healthcare institutions and nursing and midwifery educational institutions.
Additionally, from 9am to 5pm, they will continue their sit-in and protest at the Nursing and Midwifery Directorate and BNMC.