Police use a water cannon to break up a group of protesters who blocked the Shahbagh intersection in the city on Monday, demanding the appointment of 6,531 individuals to the post of assistant teacher at government primary schools (third phase) in Dhaka and Chattogram. — FE Photo Several hundred demonstrators on Monday blocked the road stretching from Shahbagh intersection up to Science Laboratory in the capital demanding appointment as assistant primary teachers.
However, following baton-charge and hot water splashing by police, registered job seekers from the 1st to 12th NTRCA (Non-Government Teachers' Registration and Certification Authority) batches left Shahbagh intersection.
As of 4:00 pm, the protesters remained steadfast in their position, refusing to leave despite police attempts to negotiate. They declared their intent to continue demonstration until their demands were met.
Media reports revealed that the demonstrators occupied the road from Shahbagh to Science Laboratory, causing disruption in traffic.
However, vehicles were seen moving along the Shahbagh-Farmgate route, while those coming from Dhaka University and Matsya Bhaban were rerouted through Banglamotor.
Earlier, at 1:50 pm, police forcibly dispersed the protesters, but they regrouped shortly afterwards. At 2:58 pm, police fired several rounds of teargas to disperse the gathering.
The demonstration began at 1:20 pm when the protesters occupied Shahbagh intersection. Their demands include the immediate appointment of 6,531 candidates recommended in the third phase of primary teacher recruitment and the recruitment of all eligible registered teachers from the 1st to 12th NTRCA batches.
According to the protesting job seekers, they have been deprived of recruitment due to systemic corruption and discrimination in the teacher recruitment cycle (1st to 5th mass notifications).
They demand that the database for 1st to 12th batch NTRCA-certified candidates be separated, with entry-level age considerations, and that the commitments made on October 17 and December 23 by APS Sabbir Ahmed on behalf of the Chief Adviser be implemented immediately.
They also call for resolving all bureaucratic complications hindering their recruitment.
A bdnews24.com report says: The primary and mass education ministry has appealed against the High Court verdict that cancelled the recruitment of 6,531 assistant teachers in government primary schools.
At a press conference at the Foreign Service Academy in Dhaka on Monday evening, journalists asked Primary and Mass Education Affairs Advisor Bidhan Ranjan Roy Podder about the fate of the selected candidates.
He said, "A verdict has been issued by the High Court. We have appealed against it for reconsideration."
On Thursday, the High Court cancelled the recruitment of 6,531 candidates selected under quota from Dhaka and Chattogram divisions and ordered a fresh merit-based selection.
The verdict followed a writ petition, which led the court to issue a rule on Nov 19, 2023, and suspend the recruitment process for six months, halting the appointment of the candidates.
The final verdict was delivered on Thursday.
Selected candidate Talukdar Piyas told bdnews24.com: "Before the quota was redefined, our recruitment circular, written exams, and oral tests had already taken place. The government selected us based on legal opinions from the law and public administration ministries. The High Court's verdict against us is discriminatory."
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