, Dec. 10 -- Health assistants on Tuesday continued their sit-in in front of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) for the 12th consecutive day, pressing for amendments to recruitment rules, removal of salary disparities and recognition of their technical status.

Hundreds of health assistants filled the DGHS premises in Mohakhali with protest chants, accusing the authorities of decades of deprivation and repeated breaches of commitment.

On December 7, health assistants from across the country held a daylong protest at the DGHS and later announced an extended sit-in in Dhaka with representatives from all 64 districts.

From 10am on Wednesday, health assistants, assistant health inspectors and health inspectors - under the ban...