More than a hundred individuals sustained injuries during a clash between police and a group of government primary school teachers in Dhaka’s Shahbagh yesterday. The altercation occurred at approximately 4:00 pm when a large number of teachers attempted to march towards Shahbagh intersection following a sit-in protest at the Central Shaheed Minar to emphasize their demands, including salary scale elevation to the 10th grade.
Subsequently, the teachers, organized under the Prathomik Shikkhok Dabi Bastobayon Parishad (Primary Teachers’ Demand Implementation Council), a coalition of four teachers’ associations, declared a nationwide indefinite work stoppage beginning today. They also confirmed their intention to continue the sit-in at the Shaheed Minar to denounce the “police assault” and advocate for their requests.
The teachers had initiated a symbolic “pen drop” program at Shahbagh earlier in the day before the confrontation took place. According to Masud Alam, deputy commissioner of DMP’s Ramna Division, the peaceful pen-drop gesture was disrupted when a group of teachers attempted to breach police barricades and threw brick chips, prompting the police to intervene.
Some police officers sustained injuries during the altercation, as reported by Brigadier General Md Asaduzzaman, director of Dhaka Medical College Hospital, where over 100 individuals received initial medical treatment. The injuries were primarily below the knee, with some individuals experiencing discomfort due to the use of sound grenades.
The protesting teachers claimed that the police resorted to tear gas, baton charges, and water cannons without provocation when they were stopped in front of the Public Library. Subsequently, the teachers dispersed and sought refuge on the Dhaka University campus. Police reinforcements were deployed at the scene by 4:30 pm to restore order.
In response to the incident, the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) issued a statement prohibiting all forms of gatherings and rallies near the chief adviser’s residence at Jamuna and surrounding regions. Despite the ban, the demonstrators defied the restrictions, prompting police intervention to disperse the protest and safeguard critical state facilities.
Abul Kashem, president of the Bangladesh Primary Teachers’ Association, affirmed that the strike in government primary schools nationwide will persist until their demands, which include the implementation of the 10th-grade pay scale, resolution of eligibility issues after 10 and 16 years of service, and assurance of 100 percent departmental promotions, are met.
Meanwhile, at an event in Khulna, Professor Bidhan Ranjan Roy Poddar, adviser to the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education, addressed the teachers’ demands. He indicated that while headteachers have recently been promoted to the 10th grade, assistant teachers are currently at the 13th grade, emphasizing the need for a review process. Additionally, he acknowledged the concerns regarding the time scale for service milestones and the policy on departmental promotions, highlighting ongoing discussions to address these issues.