At least 20 people, including two policemen, were injured when police disbursed a group of protesters in front of Sher-e-Bangla Medical College Hospital on Wednesday.
The injured protesters were students of Barisal Institute of Health Technology, and they blocked the road in front of the hospital at noon as part of the protest called by Bangladesh Diploma Medical Technology and Pharmacy Students' Association.
The association called the programme to press home its 10-point demand.
Police detained 14 students of the institute from the spot while the injured students were treated at the hospital.
“We were protesting peacefully but police attacked us out of the blue around 12 at noon,” claimed Md Hossain, convener of the association.
Tonny Afroz, who was injured in the baton charge, condemned police action on female protesters.
Shakhawat Hossain, officer-in-charge of Kotwali police station, said police initially asked protesters not to keep the road blocked but they refused to comply and even hurled brick chips at law enforcers, leaving two injured.
“We were forced to resort to baton charge to disburse the crowd and also detained 14 for interrogation,” he added.
Golam Rouf, deputy commissioner of Barisal Metropolitan Police, said protesters cannot make people suffer to have their demands met.
“They must approach the authorities concerned and submit their demands,” he said.
Sonia Aktar, one of the protesters, said the 10-point demand includes forming a diploma medical education board, creating posts as per the guidelines of the World Health Organisation at public healthcare institutes, and introducing degree and master's courses for pharmacists holding diploma degrees for enabling them to enjoy first-class status in public service.
