Police use sound grenades, water cannon to disperse protesting pry teachers at Shahbagh

Bangla Press Desk:   Police used sound grenades and water cannon to disperse a procession of government primary school assistant teachers marching towards Shahbagh on Saturday afternoon to press home their three-point demand, including a 10th-grade pay scale.

The teachers began their march from the Central Shaheed Minar but were stopped by police after moving a short distance. When they attempted to break through the barricades, police fired sound grenades and sprayed water to disperse the demonstrators.

Earlier in the morning, thousands of assistant teachers from across the country gathered at the Central Shaheed Minar, launching a continuous sit-in programme demanding the 10th-grade pay scale, resolution of higher-grade issues after 10 and 16 years of seThe programme is being carried out under the banner of Primary Teachers’ Demand Implementation Council by four organisations — Bangladesh Primary Teachers’ Association (Kashem–Shahin), Bangladesh Primary School Assistant Teachers’ Association, Bangladesh Primary Teachers’ Association (Shahin–Lipi), and Assistant Teachers’ 10th Grade Implementation Council.

Khayrun Nahar Lipi, general secretary of Bangladesh Primary Teachers’ Association (Shahin–Lipi), said, “We have discussed our demands many times, but nothing has been resolved. This time, we will stay on the streets until our demands are fulfilled.”

Teachers recruited in the third phase from Dhaka and Chattogram divisions have also announced their decision to join the ongoing protest.

BP/SP