National Human Rights Commission, Bangladesh Chairman Dr Mizanur Rahman yesterday requested the prime minister and the ministry concerned to meet unemployed nurses' "just" demand for recruitment based on year of graduation, merit, and seniority instead of through exams.

Meeting the nurses who were staging a sit-in for the 10th consecutive day in front of the capital's Jatiya Press Club, he questioned the necessity for changing the recruitment system, saying two different laws cannot be used in this context.

The demonstrations, under the banners of Bangladesh Diploma Bekar (unemployed) Nurses' Association, and Bangladesh Basic Graduate Nurses' Society, were sparked by a Bangladesh Public Service Commission March 28 circular to recruit 3,616 senior nurses.

It said applicants below the age of 36 and attaining Bachelor of Science and diploma in nursing had to take an exam.

The association secretary general, Faruk Hossain, said many like him could not apply in the last three recruitment phases for the previous system's seniority clause and now it would be unjust if they had to compete with juniors.

Referring to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina' previous announcement on recruiting 10,000 nurses, Mizanur said it was unexpected and unwarranted that nurses had to launch a movement as there was a huge shortage in light of World Health Organization-recommended doctor to nurse ratio.

He said if the previous system was not followed, they would be compelled to believe there was an ill-motive,  which, in this case, meant jobs were being sold and this was unacceptable as nurses' duty was to serve people. Mizanur also condemned police action on the demonstrators in the capital's Shahbagh on March 30.