The agitating students and intern doctors of Khulna Medical College and Hospital (KMCH) have called off their strike over the clash with medicine traders considering the plight of patients.
Dr Saiful Islam Antor, president of KMCH Intern Doctors Association, announced the withdrawal of the strike at 3pm on Thursday.
"Khulna-2 constituency MP Sheikh Salahuddin Jewel and Khulna Mayor Talukdar Abdul Khalek visited the ailing students. Two people have already been arrested by police. Considering the plight of the patients, we have decided to temporarily withdraw the strike,"
Antor said.
However, he threatened to go on strike again if there is no substantial progress in arresting all the suspects who attacked the protesters and addressing their other demands by Saturday (19 August).
On Monday night, a group of KMCH students and medicine traders of the Blue Super Market were engaged in a scuffle and later clashed over alleged overpricing of medicine at a shop.
Students alleged that the medicine sellers swooped on them as they protested against the overpricing, leaving 20 students injured.
On the other hand, medicine traders of the market said a student illegally asked for commission on medicine price which led to the incident.
Goods worth Tk10 lakh were damaged and nine traders were injured as the students vandalised the shop, alleged traders.
After the clash with the medicine traders, the KMCH students staged protests and gave the institution's authorities an ultimatum to meet their three-point demand.
The demands are – arrest of the people responsible for the clash on Monday night, and establishment of a model pharmacy and a permanent police outpost at the hospital.
KMCH Vice Principal Dr Mehedi Newaz assured the students of initiating steps to meet their demands, following which the students returned to the campus from the spot on Wednesday afternoon.
However, the students staged a fast unto death programme in front of the emergency unit of KMCH around 12 noon on Thursday.
