Protesting medical college students and guardians yesterday urged the prime minister to grant the medical seekers justice. During a demonstration at 1pm at the Central Shaheed Minar, Chhatro Obhibabok Oikkho Forum brought out a banner containing an image of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
Chhatro Front, from the beginning of the protest, opposed the use of such a banner. They said a common banner ought to be used or they would bring out a procession without any banner. This caused unrest and conflict among the protesters and students, said Imran Habib Rumon from Shamajtantrik Chhatro Front.
At the demonstration, students of Dhaka Medical College and Sir Salimullah Medical College (SSMC) joined in.
“This protest is not being held for a political reason; it is a basic right of the students. Many people are taking advantage of this protest, which we do not want,” said Parvez, an admission seeker and protester.
At 1pm yesterday, the student protesters had marched from Central Shaheed Minar to Central Public Library, where police blocked their procession. Tamanna, an admission seeker and protester, claimed that outsiders had intervened in this protest.
Medical college admission seekers will continue to protest today from 3pm at Shahbagh in the capital, demanding the recently held medical entrance examination and its published results be cancelled.
Students, guardians, and various others will join the protest, she confirmed.
Earlier on September 18, the medical college admission test was held. The aggrieved college applicants demanded the entrance exam results be annulled because exam questions were leaked on Facebook the night before and on the morning of this year’s entrance exams. They demanded a fresh exam be held for all applicants.
From September 29, enrolment in medical courses began; hence, admission seekers staged a demonstration at Dhaka Medical College (DMC), demanding the cancellation of the enrolment process, which was in progress.
On September 30, police detained 10 protesters at Shahbagh police station and freed them at around 10pm.
The demonstration has been held for the past 13 days. According to the protesters, though their demonstration has been non-violent, the police have attacked them.
Gonojagoron Moncho spokesperson Imran H Sarker said he supports the medical admission seekers.
The admission seekers have announced they would continue with their demonstration, and their next agenda would be announced today.
An official of the Directorate General of Health Services said the enrolment process would continue and there would be no cancellation regarding entry to medical colleges.
