Health Assistants Stage Sit-in at Shaheed Minar for Six-Point Demands

Health assistants are holding a peaceful sit-in at Shaheed Minar demanding amendments to recruitment rules, elimination of wage disparity, and technical grade recognition. The day-long programme began on Saturday morning under the banner of the Bangladesh Health Assistant Association, with thousands of health assistants, assistant health inspectors, and health inspectors participating from 64 districts.

Health assistant Sadekur Rashid Kiran stated that they work in wards in all weather registering mothers and children and administering vaccines, yet there has been no progress on pay and grade for 27 years. Assistant health inspector Monir Hossain and health inspector Abu Kalam also highlighted issues of pay and promotion inequities.

Wasi Uddin Rana, chief coordinator of the Health Assistant Association, said that although their demands were announced for implementation in 1998, bureaucratic delays have prevented this. Promises made in 2016, 2017, 2020, and 2025 during various meetings and programmes have shown no tangible progress.

The six-point demands include: amendment of recruitment rules with bachelor-level qualifications for 14th grade, technical grade recognition for in-service diploma holders, continuous higher grade in promotions, inclusion in bachelor scale without additional training, full pay scale adjustments, and recognition of in-service diploma courses.

Leaders said they did not wish to deprive marginalised communities of healthcare but have been compelled to continue the indefinite sit-in and strike due to official negligence and unfulfilled promises.

Khaborwala/TSN