Staff Reporter :
Police used batons and fired sound grenades to disperse protesting government primary school teachers at the Shahbagh intersection on Saturday afternoon, leaving several injured.
Earlier in the day, hundreds of assistant teachers from government primary schools gathered at the Central Shaheed Minar to stage a sit-in, demanding the implementation of the 10th-grade pay scale and other service-related benefits.
As the teachers began marching toward Shahbagh, law enforcement personnel intercepted them and attempted to block their advance.
When the teachers continued their procession, police reportedly resorted to baton charges and the use of sound grenades to disperse the crowd.
Witnesses said several teachers sustained injuries during the confrontation.
The protest was organised under the banner of the Primary Teachers’ Demand Implementation Council, which has been leading the movement for pay scale reforms and service upgrades.
The protesters are demanding that assistant teachers be included in the 10th-grade pay scale, removal of complications in securing higher grades after 10 and 16 years of service, and ensuring 100 percent departmental promotions.
“The demand for the 10th-grade pay scale has been ongoing for years.
Since it hasn’t 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, Cumilla.
He added, “The government has proposed the 11th grade, but we are demanding the 10th grade as per our previous commitments.”
Following the police action, the teachers’ leaders said they would continue their demonstrations until their demands are met.
The protest marked yet another episode in the teachers’ long-running campaign for pay parity and recognition, as tensions between educators and authorities continue to escalate over unresolved issues surrounding their service structure.
