Medical students nationwide have been boycotting classes since Monday morning, pressing home a five-point demand, including restricting the "doctor" title to MBBS and BDS degree holders.
Jabir Hossain, president of the Doctors' Movement for Justice, said in support of their demands, all medical colleges nationwide are observing an "academic shutdown" and work abstention.
Speaking to BBC Bangla, he said: "Students from all medical colleges have boycotted all classes and examinations today (Monday). Additionally, intern doctors have refrained from providing services in various hospital wards as part of the academic shutdown."
Expressing frustration, he added: "We complete a rigorous five-year MBBS degree, while others seek to earn the title of 'doctor' merely through short-term courses."
Meanwhile, medical assistants are pursuing legal action to obtain the designation of "doctor."
A petition regarding their demand is currently under review in the High Court, with a hearing scheduled for Tuesday.
In response, doctors have demanded the withdrawal of this petition within 72 hours.
The doctors' movement has also announced a "Long March to the High Court" from the Central Shaheed Minar at 10am on Tuesday.
They warned of stricter actions if their demands are not met.
The protesting intern doctors and students outlined their key demands, including granting BMDC registration exclusively to MBBS and BDS degree holders, discontinuing registration for medical assistants (MATS graduates), shutting down all medical assistant training schools (MATS) and substandard public and private medical colleges and revoking the designation of "Sub-Assistant Community Medical Officers" for MATS graduates, recognizing them instead as "Medical Assistants".
