Assistant teachers of government primary schools, whose appointments were cancelled by a court order, began an indefinite sit-in in front of the National Press Club in the capital on Friday demanding their appointments.
They said that the cancellation of appointments of 6,531 assistant teachers was not logical and acceptable as many of them had already received appointment letters and joining dates.
Many of the protesters will not apply for government jobs further as their age limits have already exceeded, said Noyan Mondal, a protester whose appointment was cancelled.
The High Court on Thursday declared illegal and scrapped the November 20, 2024 appointment of 6,531 assistant teachers to government primary schools in Dhaka and Chattogram based on job quotas as per the 2019 recruitment rules.
Shahidul Islam Khan, a protester from Munshiganj, said, 鈥榃e want to have our appointments reinstated.鈥�
鈥榃e will not withdraw our protest programme till our demand is met,鈥� Shahidul said, adding that the protesters will announce tough programmes if their demand is not met.
The protesters began the indefinite sit-in on Friday evening after they were dispersed from near the state guest house Jamuna in Dhaka in the afternoon.
A number of protesters marched towards Jamuna to submit their demand to the interim government chief adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus.
Police used water cannons and charged batons after the protesters crossed the police barricade in front of Jamuna, said protester Mamun Sikder.
He claimed that around six protesters, including a pregnant woman, were injured as police attacked them.
Bithi Rani, a protester, claimed that male police members charged batons on female protesters and a pregnant woman was injured in the incident.
Dhaka Metropolitan Police Ramna Division deputy commissioner Masud Alam told 抖阴精品 that water cannons were used to disperse the crowd to maintain the law and order in the area.
鈥楳ale police members did not charge batons on females,鈥� said the DC.
The protesters held a sit-in on the road near hotel InterContinental Dhaka for about an hour after they were dispersed and again began the indefinite sit-in in front of press club after police pushed the crowd from the place.
鈥楾he DC has assured us of arranging a meeting between our representatives and the authorities on Sunday,鈥� Sumaiya, a protester, said, adding that they will continue the protest until their demand is met.
Earlier, the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education on June 14, 2023 invited applications for recruiting assistant primary schoolteachers in Dhaka and Chattogram.
The 2019 recruitment rules allow 60 per cent quota for women, 20 per cent for wards, and 20 per cent for males in recruiting teachers for government primary schools.
The ministry published the results on October 31, 2024, selecting 6,531 candidates for appointment. Their appointment letters were issued on November 20, 2024.
The High Court in its Thursday verdict observed that the appointment contradicted the July 21, 2024 Appellate Division verdict that restructured the quota system in government jobs.