Female students of Barisal Health Technology Institute lying on the road after being baton-charged by police during their agitation in the city on Wednesday. Photo Courtesy: Prothom Alo

Eighteen students were injured as baton-wielding police swooped on the students of Barisal Health Technology Institute in the city this afternoon.
Bangladesh Diploma Medical Technology and Pharmacy Students Association staged the demonstration to press home their 10-point demand about recognising their academic skills in professions.

Police charge batons on agitating students of Barisal Health Technology Institute during their agitation in the city on Wednesday. Photo: STAR

The lawmen, however, charged batons to disperse the agitators from the road in front of Barisal Sher-E-Bangla Medical College campus, leaving some 18 students wounded.
Chase and counter chase also took place between the cops and students, reports our Barisal correspondent
Two policemen were also injured.
Md Hossain, convener of the association, said the students were peacefully staging demonstrations and a human chain to press home their demands in front of SBMCH.
But, he said, police suddenly attacked the students around 12:00pm, leaving them injured.

Police charge batons on agitating students of Barisal Health Technology Institute during their agitation in the city on Wednesday. Photo: STAR

Golam Rouf, deputy commissioner of Barisal Metropolitan Police, said they took action to ease public sufferings caused by the road blockade.
“Demands cannot be met by blocking roads. They should go to the authorities concerned to place their legitimate demands,” he said.
The demands include formation of diploma medical education board, creating posts as per directions of World Health Organisation in public health service providing institutes,  giving second-class gezetted status to diploma holder technologists and pharmacists, introducing degree and masters courses for them.
The other demands are: creating new directorates for the medical technologists and pharmacists, giving promotions in service by creating career panel, registration for private practices for dental and physiotherapy diploma holders, compulsory appointments of technologists and pharmacists at all private and non-government health service providing organs under specified rules and regulations.