Police charge batons, use sound grenades to disperse protesting primary school teachers at Shahbagh
Several protesters were reportedly injured in the police action
Police baton-charged and fired sound grenades to disperse protesting primary school teachers at Dhaka's Shahbagh intersection this afternoon (8 November).
Earlier in the day, assistant teachers of government primary schools staged a sit-in at the Central Shaheed Minar, demanding implementation of the 10th-grade pay scale and other key benefits.
As the teachers marched toward Shahbagh, police blocked their advance and used batons and sound grenades to disperse them.
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Several protesters and policemen were reportedly injured in the incident.
Shamim Billah, a teacher at Rajarampur Government Primary School in Magura Sadar Upazila who took part in the protest, told The Business Standard, "We held a hunger strike at Shaheed Minar and then moved to Shahbagh around 3pm for a 'pen-throwing' programme. Around 3:15pm, the police obstructed our programme, baton-charged us, and used sound grenades and water cannons."
He claimed that more than a hundred of protesting teachers were injured in the police action.
Muhammad Talebur Rahman, deputy commissioner (media and public relations) of DMP, said a group of protesters attempted to break through a police barricade and cross the Shahbagh intersection toward the State Guest House Jamuna around 4pm.
"When officers tried to stop them, the protesters threw bricks, injuring several police personnel. In response, the police fired multiple rounds of sound grenades and used water cannons to disperse the crowd," he said.
The officer added that the action was taken to restore order and ensure the security of key state installations.
The protest was held under the banner of the Primary Teachers' Demand Implementation Council.
Their main demands include granting assistant teachers the 10th-grade pay scale, removing complications in obtaining higher grades after 10 and 16 years of service, and ensuring 100 per cent departmental promotion.
"The demand for the 10th-grade pay scale has been ongoing for a long time. Since it has not been implemented, we have now taken to the streets," said Mohammad Mozammel Hossain Sakib, an assistant teacher at Suhrid Palli Government Primary School in Nangalkot Upazila of Cumilla.
"We have been continuing our movement for the 10th grade. The government has proposed the 11th grade, but we want the 10th grade," he added.
