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Barisal, August 17, 2025**: A protest demanding justice for attacks on healthcare reform activists took place outside Sher-e-Bangla Medical College Hospital in Barisal on Sunday afternoon, leading to heightened tensions. The demonstration, led by students under the banner of "Student-Public," turned chaotic as clashes erupted between protesters and hospital staff, with both sides throwing bricks at each other. In response, doctors and hospital staff threatened to go on a work stoppage, citing concerns over workplace safety.
The protest began at 1:00 PM with a procession starting from Ashwini Kumar Hall in the city, demanding four-point healthcare reforms. The march reached the main gate of Sher-e-Bangla Medical College Hospital, where police halted the protesters. The demonstrators, some carrying sticks, chanted slogans demanding accountability for attacks on their earlier hunger strike.
Eyewitnesses reported that the hospital’s main gate was barricaded upon the protesters' arrival. The protesters gave the hospital director a one-hour ultimatum to ensure justice for those who attacked their hunger strike. Tensions escalated when an intern doctor was allegedly assaulted at the gate, further intensifying the situation. In response, hospital doctors and staff decided to initiate a strike but were urged by the hospital director, Brigadier General Mashinul Munir, to refrain from doing so to avoid patient suffering. The director called for a meeting on Monday at 10:00 AM to address the situation, assuring resolution. Consequently, the doctors and staff postponed their strike decision until the meeting. Amid the unrest, both sides engaged in brick-throwing, but police intervened to bring the situation under control.
By 2:45 PM, the protesters left the hospital area and gathered in front of the District Administrator’s office, where they staged a one-hour sit-in, chanting slogans in support of their demands. The protest organizer, Mahiuddin Roni, a Dhaka University student, announced a sit-in program at Amtala Mor in the city for Monday morning, concluding the day’s activities.
On Saturday, Mahiuddin Roni held a press conference at Barisal’s Central Shaheed Minar, announcing the continuation of the movement. Initially, the movement began with three demands: infrastructural development in all government hospitals, including Sher-e-Bangla Medical College; recruitment of sufficient skilled personnel, provision of modern equipment, and adequate medicine supply; and curbing corruption in the health ministry and hospitals through enhanced administrative efficiency, banning partisan politics by doctors, establishing digital automation, and forming a transparent and accountable task force.
Additionally, the movement calls for the Health Reform Commission to investigate public grievances, make recommendations, and take strong steps for implementation. Following Thursday’s attack on protesters, a fourth demand was added: justice for those involved in the assault on hunger-striking students.
Barisal Metropolitan Police Deputy Commissioner Imdadul Hossain confirmed that the situation is now under control. Hospital Director Brigadier General Mashinul Munir stated, “The protests are somewhat disrupting hospital services. A meeting has been scheduled for tomorrow to address the situation, and I urge everyone to remain patient.” He added to *Prothom Alo* that the hospital situation has been reported to higher authorities, noting that a fearful environment has been created, with 900 nurses and doctors affected, leading to disruptions in healthcare services.
**20-Day-Long Movement**: The protests, under the "Student-Public" banner, have been ongoing for 20 days in Barisal, led by Mahiuddin Roni. As part of the movement, protesters blocked the Barisal-Dhaka highway for 29.5 hours over six days from August 8 to the previous Wednesday. Additionally, a few students staged a three-day hunger strike at the hospital’s main gate to press their three-point demands. In response, the Director General of the Health Directorate, Abu Jafar, visited Barisal on Wednesday and held discussions with representatives of political parties, doctors, and civil society at Sher-e-Bangla Medical College, assuring that the students’ demands would be addressed. However, the protesters vowed to continue their movement until the Health Adviser visits Barisal. On Thursday, hospital staff chased and allegedly assaulted some hunger-striking students after accusations of mistreatment, leading to the disruption of the hunger strike.
