At least five people were injured when the police on Sunday in Dhaka city dispersed a group of ibtedayi madrassah teachers attempting a march towards the chief adviser’s official residence, demanding nationalisation of the ibtedayi madrassahs.
The law enforcers hurled at least two sound grenades and used water cannon to disperse the protesters at Shahbagh crossing.
After the incident, the teachers blocked a portion of the Kazi Nazrul Islam Avenue inside the Dhaka University campus starting from about 1:00pm that continued till this report was filed at 8:30pm.
Amid huge police presence, they vowed to continue their movement until their demands were met.
Some student organisations expressed solidarity with the teachers.
The blockade caused huge traffic congestion on the Dhaka University campus and Shabagh areas.Â
Under the banner of ‘independent ibtedayi madrassah teachers’ unity council’, the teachers coming from across the country began staging a sit-in programme in front of the National Press Club on January 19 which continued as of Sunday.
The demands of the platforms are—nationalisation of the ibtedayi madrassahs like the government primary schools, cancelation of the Independent Ibtedayi Madrassah registration stay order 2008, code numbers for all registered madrassahs, approval for the separate guidelines, teaching method, recognition, salary and allowance, appointment of office assistants and approval for opening pre-primary classes in these madrassahs.
The protesting teachers resumed their sit-in for the eighth consecutive day on Sunday and from the National Press Club they started a procession towards the official residence of chief adviser Muhammad Yunus.Â
Around 12:45pm they reached near the Shabagh police station and tried to remove police barricades following which law enforcers dispersed them using water cannon, sound grenades and baton charge on some who tried to resist.Â
Dhaka Medical College Hospital staff said that five injured in the police action took treatment. The protesting teachers’ platform convener Md Shamsul Alam claimed that over 200 teachers were injured.
Later in the evening, a team of the teachers went to Shikkha Bhaban and had a discussion with an additional secretary but it was not fruitful, said council member secretary Md Alamin.
Dhaka Metropolitan Police additional superintendent Mir Asaduzzaman told reporters in Shabagh area that no one got injured in their action.
¶¶Òõ¾«Æ· Dhaka University correspondent reported that in the evening under the banner of Students Against Repression a procession was brought out and under the banner of Inquilab Mancha a rally was held on the campus. Both the demonstrations condemned the police action on the madrassah teachers.
