MATS students vow to intensify protests if demands aren't met

Students of the Medical Assistant Training School, or MATS, have warned about escalating their protests if their demands, which include job opportunities, are not met.

The health ministry would be held accountable for any "untoward incidents" resulting from their intensified protests, student representatives said at a media briefing at the Jatiya Press Club on Sunday.

The event was jointly organised by the Diploma Medical Association, the General MATS Students' Unity Council, and the Bangladesh Diploma Medical Private Practitioners Association.

Md Mujahidul Islam, senior coordinator of the unity council, delivered the keynote address.

He accused certain doctors of spreading misinformation about the MATS student movement, leading some medical college students to disseminate "false and misleading information" through the media and social platforms. This was harming the reputation of sub-assistant medical officers and holders of the Diploma in Medical Faculty, or DMF, degree, according to him.

"Such propaganda is a punishable offence under existing laws," he said. "A case concerning DMF rights is currently pending in the High Court. Any attempts to influence the verdict through strikes, meetings or demonstrations by medical students threaten judicial independence and constitute contempt of court. We strongly oppose these actions. We are not against anyone -- our demands will be addressed through legal channels."

"The long-standing discrimination against MATS students remains unresolved. For years, we have been protesting and fighting for our rights. On Jan 22, the Ministry of Health promised to meet our demands within seven days, but that promise has not been fulfilled. When that promise was not kept, we took to the streets again on Feb 9. At that time, the authorities assured us that our recruitment process would be completed within three working days. However, no action has been taken so far."

MATS students have been agitating for a long time, demanding immediate appointments to vacant positions in 10th-grade positions, employment opportunities and positions at government and private levels, curriculum revisions and one-year internships with allowances while maintaining the four-year academic course, the cancellation of the proposed Allied Health Professional Board and the formation of a board called “Medical Education Board of Bangladesh”, and higher education opportunities in clinical subjects recognised by international standards and the BM&DC.

As part of their protests, students have organised various demonstrations, including class boycotts.

Bangladesh has 16 public and 51 private MATS institutions. After completing a three-year course, students receive a Diploma in Medical Faculty degree.