Recommended candidates for the position of assistant teachers in primary schools continued their protest at Shahbagh for the eighth consecutive day on Thursday to have their recruitment reinstated, causing a halt to traffic flow. 

They staged the demonstration on the road in front of the National Museum, blocking traffic towards Matsya Bhaban via Science Lab.

At around 1:30pm, over 100 of them were occupying the road, demanding swift recruitment, while law enforcement officers were present nearby.

The protests began on February 6, involving 6,531 candidates from the third phase of recruitment in Dhaka and Chittagong divisions. 

Candidates from the first and second phases have already been appointed and are currently employed.

During their protest in front of the Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education on Wednesday, candidates announced that they would begin a sit-in protest at Shahbagh the next morning under the banners “Justice for Teachers” and “Long March to Dhaka” to secure their appointments.

Protest leader Mohib Ullah said the government itself had recommended their recruitment, asking why should they be deprived. 

“Our results were published with approval from the ministries of law and public administration. First- and second-phase candidates have been appointed – why this discrimination against us? We demand immediate confirmation of our recruitment.”

Earlier, following police action against the protesters on Monday, a delegation met with the primary and mass education secretary at the Secretariat on Tuesday. 

Government representatives assured them that an appeal had been filed in court to facilitate their recruitment and that no one would be left out. 

However, the protesters vowed to continue their movement until the court's order was revoked.

Two of them, Jannatul Naeem Sweety and Fahmida Rozy, issued an ultimatum for recruitment confirmation by noon on Wednesday. 

When their demands were not met, they announced the continuation of their protest.

Sweety said: “The court ruling has cancelled our recruitment. If this unjust verdict is not overturned, the movement will intensify. We demand our rights. We will not leave the streets until our appointments are confirmed.”

How it started

Recruitment notices for assistant primary teachers were issued in three phases in 2023. 

The first and second phases have already been completed, including hiring from the waiting list.

The third-phase notice was published on June 14, 2023, followed by a written exam on March 29, 2024. 

Results were announced on April 21, with oral exams conducted on June 12, 2024.

After obtaining the necessary approvals, the interim government published the final results on October 31, recommending 6,531 candidates. 

However, following a High Court petition by 31 unsuccessful candidates, recruitment for all 6,531 was suspended for six months.

Government officials assured the protesters that none of the 6,531 candidates would be excluded and that their recruitment would proceed once legal complications were resolved. 

However, after seven hearings in different courts – including the chamber judge, Appellate Division and High Court – the final verdict on February 6 cancelled the recruitment, prompting the ongoing protest.