Our Correspondent, Barishal, – Residents joined student-led protests in Barishal on Sunday, demanding urgent reforms in the health sector to ensure uniform service delivery across all medical facilities.
Demonstrators blocked the regional highway at Nathullabad for several hours, halting traffic and causing disruptions for travelers. At one point, clashes erupted with security forces as authorities attempted to clear the road to ease public suffering. The protesters later dispersed in the afternoon, allowing normal traffic flow to resume.
Meanwhile, Brigadier General M A Masud, Director of Barishal’s Sher-e-Bangla Medical College, is expected to address the issue at a news conference on Monday, according to the hospital’s public relations officer, J. Khan Swapan.
This marks the fourth consecutive day that protesters have obstructed the Barishal-Dhaka highway at Nathullabad, severely impacting commuters traveling across southern districts.
The demonstrators have announced a series of street agitations, alleging that hospitals in Barishal are controlled by a corrupt syndicate.
Mohiuddin Roni, one of the protest organizers, emphasized the need for infrastructural upgrades in all government hospitals, including Sher-e-Bangla Medical College Hospital.
“The public healthcare system is riddled with corruption and requires immediate policy reforms,” Roni stated.
Protesters demanded stricter measures to curb malpractice, including: enhanced administrative oversight in hospitals, an end to politically biased doctor appointments, and full automation of hospital operations to ensure transparency.
The protesters have given authorities a 24-hour deadline to address their demands, warning of intensified demonstrations if no action is taken.
