Shahbag blockade by those deprived of primary school appointments: Police chase and fire water cannons!

The police chased protesters in Shahbag in the capital, demanding the reinstatement of the canceled appointments for assistant teachers in government primary schools. At that time, the police also fired water cannons at the protesters.

On Thursday (February 13), at around 2:10 pm, the police tried to chase them away from the main road at Shahbagh intersection. However, the protesters ignored the police chase and water cannons and blocked the road again. The protesters say they will not return home without receiving their appointment letters.

Earlier, the protesters had been in front of the National Museum in Shahbagh for the seventh day since Thursday morning. They blocked the road at Shahbagh intersection at around 1:45 pm. Later, the police fired water cannons to disperse them.

However, the protesters continued to block Shahbagh despite the police chase and water cannons. As a result, traffic at Shahbagh intersection and connecting roads is closed.

Earlier on Monday afternoon, the police had also fired water cannons and lathi-charged them. At that time, the sound of several sound grenades could be heard. Several protesters were injured in the police lathi-charge. In addition, some were detained. Later that evening, the protesters announced that they would continue to sit in front of the National Museum in Shahbagh in the capital if their demands were not met.

The protesters are demanding the appointment of 6,531 people in Dhaka and Chittagong divisions in the third phase of the post of assistant teachers in government primary schools.

The protesters said that the notification for the recruitment of primary assistant teachers was issued in three phases. The final recruitment process for the first and second phases has been completed. But a farce is going on with the third phase.

According to the protesters' press release, the notification for the third phase was published on June 14, 2023. The written examination was held on March 29, 2024. The results of the written examination were published on April 21 of the same year. Interviews were conducted on June 12. The results were published on October 31 with the permission of the Ministry of Law and the Ministry of Public Administration. In this, 6,531 people were finally recommended.

31 people who did not receive recommendations filed a writ petition in the High Court. In view of this, the recruitment process of 6,531 people was suspended for 6 months. The High Court ruled on February 6 to cancel the recruitment process of 6,531 people who passed the final results in the third phase in Dhaka and Chittagong divisions.