Government primary school teachers advocating for a higher pay scale equivalent to that of 10th-grade employees have declared a nationwide indefinite work stoppage starting from the following day. The decision follows clashes between police forces and a group of teachers during a demonstration in Shahbagh, Dhaka. Over 100 individuals sustained injuries during the confrontation that occurred around 4:00 pm when a large group of teachers attempted to march towards the Shahbagh intersection after staging a sit-in at the Central Shaheed Minar to emphasize their demands, including the elevation of their pay scale.
Subsequently, teachers, organized under the Prathomik Shikkhok Dabi Bastobayon Parishad, which is a coalition of four teachers’ associations, announced the initiation of the indefinite work stoppage. They also confirmed their intention to continue the sit-in at the Shaheed Minar to denounce the alleged “police aggression” and reinforce their demands. Abul Kashem, the president of the Bangladesh Primary Teachers’ Association, asserted, “Our strike will persist indefinitely in all government primary schools nationwide until our demands are addressed.”
The teachers are primarily seeking the implementation of the 10th-grade pay scale, resolution of issues regarding eligibility for higher grades after 10 and 16 years of service, and the assurance of 100 percent departmental promotion. Earlier on the same day, the demonstration commenced at 9:00 am, with teachers initiating a symbolic “pen drop” activity at Shahbagh as part of their movement.
Regarding the clash, Masud Alam, the deputy commissioner of DMP’s Ramna Division, stated, “A group of teachers peacefully dropped their pens and indicated their return to the Shaheed Minar. However, another group attempted to breach our barriers and threw brick chips shortly after. Subsequently, we dispersed them.” Several police personnel also sustained injuries during the altercation.
According to the protesters, when they were obstructed by the police near the Public Library, some individuals tried to breach the barricades. “Police initially deployed tear gas and sound grenades, followed by baton charges and water cannons without provocation,” revealed Kamruzzaman, one of the protesting teachers. Brig Gen Md Asaduzzaman, the director of Dhaka Medical College Hospital, confirmed that over 100 individuals received primary medical care at the hospital’s emergency department. Fortunately, there were no severe injuries reported, with most individuals sustaining injuries below the knee, while some experienced discomfort due to the sound grenades.
In response to the events, the DMP issued a statement prohibiting all forms of meetings, rallies, and gatherings in the vicinity of the chief adviser’s residence at Jamuna and nearby areas. Despite the restrictions, the protesters disregarded the ban and attempted to advance. Police intervention was deemed necessary to uphold order and safeguard critical state facilities, leading to the dispersal of the demonstration.