Jamaat leader Porwar calls for accepting primary teachers' demands

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Secretary General Mia Golam Porwar today (9 November) condemned the use of police force, sound grenades and water cannons on government primary school teachers demonstrating in Dhaka to press home their three-point demand, including salary upgrade to the 10th grade.

In a statement, Porwar said the teachers' demands should be considered with sympathy and resolved through discussion.

"It is the responsibility of the government to address their demands in a reasonable manner. The injuries caused to over a hundred teachers during the protest are deeply regrettable and painful."

He said teachers play a vital role as the "architects of the nation" and any movement involving them should be handled with more patience and respect.

Porwar said the teachers have now announced an indefinite work abstention, which has created concern among students, parents and the wider public. With annual exams approaching, prolonged disruption of classes could severely affect children's education, he added.

He urged the government to step back from a hardline stance and engage in dialogue to resolve the issue.