Intern doctors at Chattogram Medical College launch indefinite strike

Intern doctors at Chattogram Medical College (CMC) Hospital have gone on indefinite strike over a six-point demand, including the withdrawal of a controversial notice issued by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

They started the strike from 8am on Sunday (June 7). The protesters claim that they were forced to go on this program after the government failed to take any visible action within the stipulated time.

Earlier, the Intern doctors at Chattogram Medical College Hospital (CMCH 2025-26) held a human chain and protest program in front of the main gate of CMC Hospital on June 4. After the program, a memorandum was submitted to the concerned department through the hospital authorities and an ultimatum was given to implement the demands by the night of June 5. Since no effective initiative was taken to fulfill the demands even within the stipulated time, the decision to go on indefinite strike was taken in coordination with intern doctors from all over the country on Saturday night.

The six-point demands of the agitating intern doctors include: withdrawal of the recent decision of the Health Education and Family Welfare Department, enactment of a safety law for health workers, re-determination of the salary structure of intern doctors, raising the age limit for entry into the BCS health cadre to 34 years, reforming the BMDC law, and setting the fees for various admission tests at a reasonable level.

Intern Doctors Association President Shakib Hossain said, "The strike will continue until the demands are met. If necessary, more stringent programs will be given across the country."

Meanwhile, students of Chattogram Medical College have also announced a boycott of classes in solidarity with the intern doctors' movement. In addition, a human chain and protest program are scheduled to be organized in front of the main gate of the hospital at 11:30am on Sunday.