MATS students announce fresh programs

In pursuit of their four demands, the students of the Medical Assistant Training School (MATS) will continue their protest with a sit-in at the Central Shaheed Minar until 12 pm on Monday (February 10). If their demands are not met by that time, they have vowed to begin an indefinite hunger strike starting at noon.

On Sunday night, Md. Mujahidul Islam, the central coordinator of the General MATS Students' Unity Council, made the announcement at a press conference near the Raju Sculpture at Dhaka University. He stated, "The Ministry of Health has taken three days to release a job advertisement to fulfill our demands, but no solution has been reached regarding the other three demands. Therefore, we have decided not to leave our sit-in. We will stay at the Shaheed Minar even during the night and wait until 12 pm tomorrow (Monday). If our demands are not met by then, we will begin an indefinite hunger strike."

Mujahidul Islam also described an incident where a group of MATS students went to a meeting at the Ministry of Health in response to a call from the health advisor, while other students were on their way to the Press Club from Shahbagh. He said, "While heading towards Shahbagh, police suddenly attacked the students, injuring 60 severely. In total, around 120 students were injured in the attack, and many are receiving treatment in hospitals."

He strongly condemned the police attack, stating, "The same police forces who attacked us are the same ones who attacked and shot peaceful students under the fascist regime of Hasina." The students are demanding that those responsible for the attack be identified and brought to justice.