A scuffle broke out between health sector reform protesters, police and army personnel in Barishal on Sunday, the 14th day of the demonstrations.
The confrontation occurred around 11am in Nathullabad, when protesters blocked the Dhaka–Barishal highway, chanting slogans against irregularities in healthcare.
When they were blocked by security forces and law enforcement personnel, a scuffle broke out.
Under the banner of Chhatra-Janata, protesters have been demanding an end to mismanagement, corruption, and syndicate control in the health sector, particularly in government hospitals, including Sher-e-Bangla Medical College Hospital.
Sabbir Hossain, a protester, said, "They didn't want to let us sit at Nathullabad. The army and police got into a scuffle with us, but we resisted and continued our blockade," he said.
"We want to say that this is a movement in the public interest. We will not leave the streets until we succeed."
The protesters allege that syndicates within government hospitals have long deprived patients of proper treatment, and that Barishal Medical College suffers from a lack of infrastructure and skilled manpower.
They are demanding urgent measures to dismantle such networks nationwide.
Prominent activist Mohiuddin Rony stated, "We apologise to the people for the temporary inconvenience, but we will not leave the streets until the health sector is reformed."
Barishal Metropolitan Airport Police Station's Officer-in-Charge Zakir Hossain Sikdar said police were deployed at Nathullabad to prevent any breach of law and order.
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