PM Tarique Rahman Directs Medical Authorities to Evaluate Two-Day Weekly Holiday Demand

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman stated that since medical education is a highly specialized and technical domain, the senior medical authorities and relevant professionals should evaluate and decide on the feasibility of introducing a two-day weekly holiday for medical students. He made these remarks on Saturday (July 11) while responding to a student's query during the 80th anniversary celebration program of Dhaka Medical College (DMC) and Hospital.

During the interaction session at the anniversary event, a female student from Dhaka Medical College directly addressed the Prime Minister regarding their rigorous academic pressure. She pointed out that out of the seven days in a week, medical students are required to attend classes and examinations for six days.

"After enduring 10 to 12 hours of intensive classes and exams daily, we get only a single day off in the entire week. Most of that solitary holiday is unfortunately spent preparing for the next day's upcoming examinations," the student explained.

Highlighting the structural challenges of the current academic calendar, she noted that such a relentless routine significantly diminishes the efficiency, productivity, and general enthusiasm of the students. She added that the continuous pressure leaves a highly detrimental impact on their mental health, frequently leading to severe clinical depression. The student then requested the Prime Minister to intervene and implement a two-day weekly holiday for medical students, bringing them in line with the scheduling standards of other academic institutions in the country.

In response, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman acknowledged the intensity of their academic journey but emphasized the technical complexities of restructuring medical curricula.

"Since this matter involves your specific domain, which is a highly technical subject, I am not entirely certain if it is feasible to make a direct declaration right away. I believe your seniors, the veteran doctors, and institutional experts are the ones who should carefully evaluate the overall situation and come to a structured conclusion. However, on a lighter note, I can add that I personally work all seven days a week," the Prime Minister remarked.