Protesters demanding primary school teacher appointments were dispersed by police using batons, tear gas, and water cannons as they marched toward the Secretariat after gathering at Shahbagh in Dhaka.
On Sunday afternoon, around 3 p.m., thousands of job seekers from the government primary school teacher recommendation list gathered for a mass rally in front of the National Museum at Shahbagh. The protesters then marched towards the Secretariat, but were stopped by police near the High Court Mazar. As they refused to disperse, the police resorted to baton charges, tear gas, and water cannon to break up the demonstration.
This protest, which has been ongoing for 11 days, aims to secure job confirmations for those awaiting appointments in the third phase of primary school teacher recruitment. Protesters have made it clear that they will not leave the streets until they receive assurance regarding their appointment.
The demonstrators shared that the police had already used force on several occasions, including on Thursday, when they faced baton charges and water cannon. Earlier, on February 9, the police had also used tear gas, sound grenades, and water cannons to disperse them. Despite the repeated use of force, the protesters remain firm in their demands.
The recruitment process for primary assistant teachers was announced in three phases. The first two phases have been completed, but there is uncertainty surrounding the third phase. A notice for the third phase was issued on June 14, 2023, and after written and oral exams, the results were announced on October 31, with 6,531 candidates passing. However, a court injunction delayed the appointments for six months. On February 6, the High Court ruled to cancel the appointments, leaving the protesters in limbo.
Liberty News’ natioonal correspondent states that the previous Wednesday, applicants who had been denied appointments held a protest in front of the Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education in the capital. The following day, they blocked roads at Shahbagh, where police again used water cannons to disperse them.
LND/BAIZID
