Staff Reporter :
Police have dispersed protesters from city’s Shahbagh intersection by charging batons and using water cannons on Thursday as they were demanding the appointment of 6,531 assistant teachers in government primary schools across Dhaka and Chattogram divisions.
So far, 13 protesters were arrested from the scene, according the law enforcement agency sources.
Police took the action around 2:30PM on Thursday.
Earlier, the protest began around 10:00am, with several hundred of applicants staging a sit-in in front of the National Museum at Shahbagh. They chanted slogans and partially blocked the road, causing major disruption to vehicular movement and inconveniencing commuters.
The job seekers’ protest stems from a prolonged delay in the recruitment process.
On October 31 last year, the government published the final results of the recruitment test, declaring 6,531 candidates successful. However, the process was halted after 30 candidates challenged its legality in the High Court, citing the abolition of the job quota system.
On November 19, 2024, the High Court issued a six-month stay on the recruitment and sought an explanation as to why the process should not be declared illegal. The Directorate of Primary Education appealed the decision, but the Appellate Division upheld the High Court’s order and set a deadline of January 25 to resolve the petition.
On February 5, the High Court ultimately cancelled the appointment process, leaving the job seekers frustrated and prompting their protest.
