Police charge baton, detain protesters seeking appointment as asst teachers
The appointment seekers were previously recommended for government primary schools in Dhaka (under the third phase of recruitment) and Chattogram (fourth phase) divisions, before the appointments were cancelled
Police have charged batons on protesting assistant teacher appointment seekers in Shahbagh to disperse them this afternoon (13 February). A similar incident occurred on 10 February as well.
The law enforcers also detained a few protestors who have been blocking the Shahbagh intersection since this morning (13 February).
They have been protesting intermittently for a few days now demanding their appointment.
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Traffic near Shahbagh was disrupted since morning due to the protest, said Md Shakil, assistant commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police's Shahbagh zone.
After 2pm the police requested the teachers to free the road but the teachers refused. Later police started charging batons and then forcibly evacuated the place and took position in front of the National Museum.
Some have also been detained by police but Shahbagh police station OC Khalid Mansur declined to talk to media.
Nine-year-old Juma came at Shahbagh with her mother, Janantul Fredous, who has been protesting for seven consecutive days alongside others, demanding appointments for primary school teachers.
She said, "My father has a private job and struggles to cover our family expenses. When my mom received recommendations for a position as a primary school teacher, we hoped our troubles would come to an end. However, the situation has not changed, as the government has stranded my mom's appointment.
"I am begging the government for her appointment," Juma said in a quiet voice.
The appointment seekers were previously recommended for government primary schools in Dhaka (under the third phase of recruitment) and Chattogram (fourth phase) divisions, before the appointments were cancelled.
The protesters are demanding the recruitment of 6,531 assistant teachers in the third phase of the hiring process for government primary schools in the Dhaka and Chattogram divisions.
They also displayed some handwritten placards with writings such as "we dont agree with the verdict of the court."
According to the demonstrators, the recruitment notice for assistant teachers was issued in three phases. While the final recruitment process for the first and second phases has been completed, the third phase has faced delays and complications.
They began their protest on 10 February, when they blocked Shahbagh and refused to leave till their demands were met.
At one point, police charged baton and fired sound grenades and teargas shells on protesting assistant teacher appointment seekers.
Earlier on 6 February, the High Court cancelled the process of appointing 6,531 assistant teachers for government primary schools in Dhaka and Chattogram divisions.
The court also directed the authorities to start a fresh recruitment process based on merit.
