Dhaka, May 14 -- Nursing students have blocked the Shahbagh intersection, demanding that diploma courses in nursing and midwifery be recognised as equivalent to undergraduate degrees.

Students took to the streets under the banner of the "Diploma in Nursing and Midwifery Degree Implementation Committee" around 2:15pm on Wednesday, severely impeding traffic at the busy intersection.

Abu Sayeed, a nursing student, said: "The existing post-HSC Diploma in Nursing Science and Midwifery and Diploma in Midwifery courses must be immediately recognised and implemented as equivalent to an undergraduate degree."

Nursing students have been protesting for the past few days to press home their demand.

On Wednesday, the protesting students held a ral...