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Medical technologists and pharmacists across Bangladesh have threatened a nationwide shutdown of healthcare services if their salaries are not upgraded to the 10th grade of the national pay scale -- a demand they say has remained unmet for more than three decades.
To press home their demand, professionals under the banner of the "Medical Technologists and Pharmacists 10th Grade Implementation Council" observed a two-hour work stoppage at hospitals across the country on Sunday, from 9:00am to 11:00am.
"We have been demanding 10th grade salaries for 31 years, but it has yet to be implemented," said Tushar Ahmed Niloy, chief of the council's media cell.
He said the organisation had issued an ultimatum at a press conference on November 25, asking the government to meet the demand between November 26 and 29. "But as nothing has been done, we observed a two-hour work abstention in all hospitals today [Sunday]."
The council announced a schedule of escalating protest programmes. A half-day strike will be observed on December 3, from 8:00am to 12:00pm. If the government still does not respond, a full-day shutdown of all healthcare and medical education institutions will begin on December 4, the council warned.
talhabinhabib@yahoo.com