Physiotherapists block at DGHS gate demanding college, govt jobs

Physiotherapy students blocked the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) gate in Mohakhali today, demanding establishment of the Bangladesh College of Physiotherapy and recruitment of physiotherapists to first-class positions in all government hospitals.
Around 10:00am this morning, students under the banner of “Combined Physiotherapy Students’ Council” gathered in front of the DGHS office. The protesters included students from 15 government and private institutions.
Around 12:30pm, they shut the gates of DGHS, preventing anyone from entering or leaving for nearly an hour.
Prof Md Abu Jafar, director general of DGHS, said, “They are protesting here without understanding the process. Their demands should be addressed to the Directorate General of Medical Education. However, they have come to us. The issue at our end was regarding vacant positions, and we are discussing it.”
The students argued that although a five-year physiotherapy course was introduced under Dhaka University’s Faculty of Medicine in 1973, the government has not developed any career plans for them.
They said that in 2009, a separate college was proposed with land allocated in Mohakhali, and the then Health Minister, AFM Ruhal Haque, laid the foundation stone. However, the initiative has remained halted since then.
The students said that there are no direct positions in government jobs for BSc-qualified physiotherapists, leaving them with no employment opportunities. This lack of prospects has fueled their protest.
Bajlul Haque, a student of Institute of Health and Technology, Dhaka, said they had approached the DGHS nearly two months ago with their demands. Committees were formed by both DGHS and the Directorate General of Medical Education to address the issues, but no progress has been made.
He said, “Despite repeated assurances, nothing has been delivered. With our backs against the wall, we were forced to block the health directorate. We have been denied our rights for 60 years.”
“We want to speak directly with the Health Adviser, as we can no longer trust the promises of DGHS officials,” he added.