Although the authority of Bogura Shaheed Ziaur Rahman Medical College Hospital (SZMCH) said yesterday that the hospital’s intern doctors would join work today, they are continuing their strike with a 4-point demand for the third consecutive day.

Following yesterday's meeting with the hospital authorities, which failed to meet their demands, the intern doctors said they will continue their work abstention.

Several intern doctors confirmed the matter to The Daily Star on the condition of anonymity.

Yesterday, from 12:00pm to 3:00pm, the hospital authorities, along with Bogura's deputy commissioner, superintendent of police, city administrator, zila parishad administrator, and local ruling party leaders, held talks with the intern doctors to resolve the crisis.

Later, around 3:30pm, the hospital's Deputy Director, Monzur-e-Morshed, informed journalists that the intern doctors had temporarily withdrawn their strike after placing several demands.

However, the interns had not joined work as of 12:00pm today.

Asked, the SZMC deputy director told The Daily Star that the intern doctors have split into factions. Although they were supposed to join work from yesterday afternoon, no one has returned yet.

He added that discussions are ongoing and expressed hope that a section of them might join the evening shift today.

According to a statement issued on behalf of the intern doctors, their first demand includes the enactment and implementation of the Health Protection Act and a safe working environment.

The second demand is immediate arrest and exemplary punishment of those involved in the attack on the intern doctors.

The third demand specifies that no extra patients exceeding one-third of the hospital's sanctioned bed capacity should be admitted.

Fourth of all, the statement noted that not more than one attendant per patient should be allowed in the hospital.

The intern doctors said once their demands are met, they will promptly withdraw the strike and resume services in their respective departments.

Meanwhile, relatives of patients said services at the hospital are being disrupted due to the strike.

Morshed said mid-level and senior doctors are continuing to provide services.

On the night of September 1, following the death of a patient, a clash broke out between the patient's relatives and intern doctors after the relatives confronted them over alleged medical negligence. The interns went on a strike the next day.

During the incident, intern doctors detained and assaulted six of the patient's relatives before police rescued them.

At least 17 intern doctors were injured during the clash.

Later, the hospital authority filed a case with Bogura Sadar Police Station against seven named individuals and 8-10 unidentified persons. A Bogura court sent six of the detained individuals to jail.