Police use water cannons to disperse protesting teacher candidates

NN Online:

Police on Sunday deployed water cannons to disperse a protest march of teacher candidates heading to the secretariat demanding the reversal of a decision to cancel recruitment for assistant teachers in government primary schools.

The incident unfolded as protesters proceeded from Shahbagh through Dhaka University’s TSC towards the Secretariat at around 4pm, prompting police to block their path.

Despite the barricades, the demonstrators continued their protest, leading authorities to deploy water cannons in an effort to disperse them.

Earlier in the day, protesters gathered at Dhaka’s Shahbagh, staging a peaceful rally in front of the National Museum from 9:30am without obstructing roads or intersections.

Now on its 11th straight day, the protest continues as demonstrators urge the government to intervene and reverse the High Court’s February 6 ruling, which annulled the appointment of 6,531 assistant teachers in Dhaka and Chattogram divisions.

Demonstrators claim that while the first two phases of the recruitment process have been completed, the third phase remains stalled due to legal issues. Their protest began on February 10, initially blocking Shahbagh, with participants refusing to leave until their demands were met.

Authorities had previously used force, including baton charges, sound grenades, and tear gas, to disperse the protesting job seekers.