Postgrad trainee doctors call off protest after allowance raised to Tk35,000 from July
The postgraduate trainee doctors of private hospitals have called their protest and left Shahbagh after accepting the government's decision to raise their monthly allowance to Tk30,000 from January, and Tk35,000 from July.
Earlier in the day, the doctors gathered at Battala near Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) and confirmed they would return to work starting tomorrow (31 December), said Dr Habibur Rahman, publicity and publications secretary of the Postgraduate Private Trainee Doctors Association.
In this regard, the Ministry of Finance issued a notification today (30 December), signed by Deputy Secretary Syed Ali Bin Hassan.
Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel
According to the notification, the monthly allowance for trainees who have passed the first part of the Fellowship of the College of Physicians and Surgeons (BCPS) will rise by 20%, from Tk25,000 to Tk30,000. This increase will take effect from 23 December 2024.
Additionally, the notification outlined that, starting from 1 July 2025, the monthly allowance for these trainees will be raised to Tk35,000.
The government's announcement followed a meeting on Sunday afternoon between a four-member delegation of postgraduate doctors and Professor Dr Syedur Rahman, special assistant to the Chief Adviser of the Ministry of Health.
After the meeting, the doctors agreed to return to work, but later in the evening, some protesters pushed for the continuation of the demonstration.
Today, the doctors blocked Shahbagh once more but accepted the government's decision after the notification was published.
Around 8,000 private trainee doctors are currently working at various public hospitals across the country while pursuing advanced education. These doctors are prohibited from engaging in private practice during their studies and are paid a monthly allowance of Tk25,000.
Protesting doctors say many postgraduate trainees, aged between 30 and 35, are married and supporting families without the option to practice privately. Many struggle to meet their personal and family expenses.
They also highlighted that postgraduate trainees in India receive Tk67,000 and in Pakistan Tk38,000.
In contrast, government postgraduate trainees in Bangladesh receive a monthly allowance of around Tk38,000, as per Grade 9, which is higher than that of private trainees.
