Diploma nursing students have taken to the streets and blocked Shahbagh in the capital, declaring they will not leave until their demand to recognize the diploma nursing certificate as equivalent to a degree is fulfilled.
On Wednesday at around 2:30pm, the students marched from the Central Shaheed Minar and occupied the Shahbagh intersection.
During the protest, they chanted various slogans demanding the recognition of the diploma nursing certificate as a degree-equivalent qualification.
Earlier in the morning, diploma nursing students from across the country gathered at the Central Shaheed Minar. They gave the authorities a one-hour ultimatum to issue a notification declaring diploma nursing as degree-equivalent.
After receiving no assurance once the deadline passed, the students began marching toward Shahbagh.
Speaking with the demonstrators, it was learned that police had set up a barricade in front of Shahbagh police station. However, the students broke through the barricade and took control of the road, causing a halt in vehicular movement.
Apan Mahmud, who came from Jamalpur Nursing College to join the protest, said that despite completing a three-and-a-half-year course worth 110 credits after passing HSC, diploma nursing students are still not being given degree status.
On the other hand, those who complete a three-year course under the National University after HSC are granted degrees. This creates discrimination against diploma nursing students, he said.
He added: “After completing the three-year Diploma in Nursing and Midwifery and a six-month internship, we are still being treated as HSC-equivalent. We cannot accept this. Our demand is simple. Why isn’t the government accepting it?”
Student Ratul Wahid said: “In a country that claims to be against discrimination, we are being discriminated against. After completing more than three years of education and internship following our HSC, we’re still being awarded an HSC-equivalent certificate. So is our demand not justified?”
At the protest, the students declared that they would not leave Shahbagh until their demand was met. They insisted that the notification must be issued within the day.
