Academic activities at Sher-e-Bangla Medical College in Barishal have come to a standstill after students announced a complete shutdown on February 17 protesting the ongoing crisis of teacher at the college.

The protesting students yesterday blocked the Band Road in front of the medical college for an hour from 12:00pm, disrupting vehicular movement and causing traffic gridlock.

They also burned a notification on the recruitment of six teachers in the college.

Photo: Star

The students said SBMC is currently facing major challenges in providing quality education due to an acute shortage of teachers. Currently, academic activities at most departments of the college, including Medicine, Microbiology, Pathology, Physiology, CCU, Gastroenterology Department and Dental Unit, are facing disruption due to lack of teachers.

They raised demand for immediate appointment of teachers against the vacant posts in all departments of SBMC.

The students warned of stricter programme unless their demands are met.

"At least 250 students are admitted in each batch, but there are no teachers for more than half of them. There are only six professors against 50 professor posts. As such, we are being deprived of quality education," said Arafat Rahman, a final year medical student of the college.

The SBMC authorities said at least 173 of the total 334 approved posts are now lying vacant. Although the ministry provided six teachers one day ago, it hardly had any impact on resolving the ongoing crisis.

The college administration also admitted that the ongoing microbiology examination has suffered due to the present situation.

SBMC Principal Faizul Bashar said the matter has been reported to the ministry concerned, and efforts are on to resolve the crisis promptly.