FROM PAGE 3

Earlier yesterday, the demonstration began around 9:00am. The teachers had previously announced a symbolic “pen down” programme at Shahbagh as part of their movement.

“A group of teachers peacefully dropped their pens and informed us that they would return to the Shaheed Minar. However, another group tried to force their way through our barricade and hurled brick chips shortly after. We then dispersed them,” said Masud Alam, deputy commissioner of DMP’s Ramna Division.

Some police personnel were also injured, he added.

The protesters said when police stopped them in front of the Public Library, they tried to break through the barricades.

“Police first fired tear gas shells and sound grenades, then charged batons and used water cannons without provocation,” said Kamruzzaman, one of the protesting teachers.

The teachers then scattered and took shelter inside the Dhaka University campus, witnesses said.

By 4:30pm, a large number of police personnel were deployed at the scene.

Brig Gen Md Asaduzzaman, director of Dhaka Medical College Hospital, said more than 100 people received primary treatment at DMCH’s emergency department.

None were seriously injured so far. Most sustained injuries below the knee, while some fell sick due to the sound grenades, he added.

Inspector Md Faruq, in charge of the DMCH police camp, said at least 110 people received primary treatment at the hospital.

In a statement, the DMP said all kinds of meetings, rallies, and gatherings have been banned in and around the residence of the chief adviser at Jamuna and nearby areas. Despite the ban, the protesters ignored the restrictions and tried to move forward. To maintain order and protect key state installations, police stepped in to disperse the protest.

Abul Kashem, president of the Bangladesh Primary Teachers’ Association, said, “Our strike will continue indefinitely in all government primary schools across the country until our demands are met.”

The teachers’ key demands include implementation of the 10th-grade pay scale, resolution of issues related to higher-grade eligibility after 10 and 16 years of service, and ensuring 100 percent departmental promotion.

Meanwhile, at a programme in Khulna yesterday, Prof Bidhan Ranjan Roy Poddar, adviser to the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education, said they have reviewed the three demands of the protesting teachers.

“The current position for assistant teachers is the 13th grade. We have just recently promoted headteachers to the 10th grade, so how can we suddenly promote assistant teachers to the 10th grade from the 13th grade?” he asked.

“The second concern is the time scale for 10 and 16 years of service. The Pay Commission will review it, and we have no objection to that,” he also said.

“Regarding the demand for 100 percent departmental promotion, we had proposed it, but the Ministry of Public Administration said the government’s policy is to allow a maximum of 80 percent, keeping 20 percent reserved for new appointments. Accordingly, the policy has been implemented,” the adviser added.