Intern doctors at Khulna Medical College called off their work stoppage on Saturday night after receiving an assurance that the order appointing Dr Md Zahirul Haque as head of the Medicine Department would be withdrawn.
The interns ended the strike shortly after 7pm following mediation by Whip Rakibul Islam Bakul.
Dr Kamran Hossain, member-secretary of the Khulna Medical College Intern Doctors’ Association, said around 7:15pm that they had withdrawn the programme after being assured that the order concerning Dr Zahirul’s appointment would be withdrawn.
He said Bakul spoke to the interns over the phone and gave them the assurance, following which they decided to end the work stoppage.
The dispute arose from an office order issued on 24 September by Khulna Medical College Principal Prof Syed Amanul Islam.
The order said the current head of the Medicine Department, Prof ABM Saiful Alam, would go on post-retirement leave (PRL) on 30 September.
It instructed that Md Zahirul Haque, a professor of the department serving in an acting capacity, be handed charge on Prof Saiful’s last working day and perform the duties of department head.
The interns announced their work abstention after an emergency meeting at the Khulna Medical College Hospital auditorium on Saturday afternoon, protesting the order.
The work abstention disrupted services at the hospital, causing suffering to hundreds of patients, including those being treated for dengue.
The interns later resumed work after receiving the assurance regarding withdrawal of the appointment order.
