Medical technologists and pharmacists are observing a half-day strike at Dhaka Medical College Hospital and all government hospitals across the country, demanding promotion from the 11th grade to the 10th grade.
They began their work abstention around 8am and will continue until 12pm on Wednesday.
However, emergency operations at the hospitals remain out of the purview of this work stoppage, while patients in other departments have been seen suffering.
Earlier, on 30 November, they observed a work stoppage from 9am to 11am.
According to the protesters, the file for implementing the 10th grade for medical technologists and pharmacists is under process at the Ministry of Public Administration. It has been presented repeatedly to the relevant government departments and ministries, but the demand is still not being implemented.
They allege that the situation has arisen due to a lack of goodwill from the higher authorities and bureaucratic complications.
Previously, diploma engineers, diploma nurses, and diploma agriculturists were promoted from the 11th grade to the 10th grade, but medical technologists and pharmacists have not received the same benefit.
They have warned that if their demand is not accepted this time, a complete shutdown will be observed starting Thursday.
