36-hour hartal in Rangamati from tomorrow
Vehicles engaged in emergency services will remain outside the purview of the hartal
Protesters have called a 36-hour hartal from 6am tomorrow till Friday morning, alleging quota discrimination in the primary assistant teacher recruitment examination under the Rangamati Zila Parishad.
The hartal announcement came at a press conference today (19 November) held at a restaurant in Banarupa town under the banner of the Anti-Quota Unity Alliance, general students and conscious citizens.
Anti-Discrimination Student Organisation leader Rakib Hasan, and students Ibrahim Rubel, Nurul Alam, Rubel Hossain, Rezaul Karim Raju and Imam Hossain, among others, delivered statements on behalf of the protesters.
Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel
The leaders said the Rangamati Hill District Council authorities did not provide any solution even after they peacefully raised demands to ensure proper recruitment by removing quota discrimination. They said this compelled them to call the hartal.
Describing the matter as unfortunate, the leaders said the recruitment notice published by the Rangamati Hill District Council did not mention any quota, and it did not clearly state the number of vacant posts.
"The council authorities have begun implementing recruitment based on 70% indigenous and 30% Bangali quota, ignoring the government-mandated 7% quota provision," they added.
They insisted that recruitment must follow merit and qualification, and they would not accept decisions that discriminate in the name of quota and destroy merit.
The organisers have further urged all government and private offices, educational institutions, vehicles and business establishments in the district town to remain closed during the hartal on 20 and 21 November.
However, they also assured that vehicles engaged in emergency services will remain outside the purview of the hartal.
Speaking to The Business Standard, Rangamati Zila Parishad Chairman Kajol Talukder said, "I have heard that a hartal has been called. They will do their work. We will continue ours."
On 21 November, authorities plan to hold the written examination for recruiting primary assistant teachers, where nearly 7,000 applicants will take part.
