Online Desk  :   Police resorted to water cannons and baton charges to disperse selected candidates for the post of primary school assistant teachers, whose appointments were recently cancelled due to a High Court verdict. The incident unfolded on Sunday (February 16) at approximately 4:00pm near the Shiksha Bhaban. Initially, male teachers attempted to protest but were quickly driven away after police deployed water cannons and charged with batons. However, female candidates refused to back down, continuing their demonstration on the road despite the high-pressure water spray. By 4:30pm, when this report was written, the women protesters remained steadfast, standing in place and chanting slogans demanding justice.

The protest began earlier that day at 11:00am at the National Museum intersection in Shahbagh. Following a pre-announced rally, participants sang the national anthem at 11:30am before embarking on a march from Shahbagh at around 3:00pm. Their planned route took them from Shahbagh to the High Court via Dhaka University’s TSC. However, midway through the march, the group abruptly redirected toward the Secretariat. Upon reaching the Shiksha Bhaban, police barricaded the protesters, halting their progress. Around 4:00 pm water cannons were deployed, followed by a baton charge targeting male protesters. While the men dispersed under pressure, female candidates demonstrated resilience by lying down on the road, refusing to retreat. Consequently, traffic on the affected road has come to a standstill.

This protest stems from the High Court’s decision to cancel the appointments of 6,531 assistant teacher candidates for government primary schools in Dhaka and Chattogram divisions. The candidates argue that the ruling undermines their legitimate claims to employment and call for reconsideration of the case. Among the slogans shouted by the female protesters was “We want justice!”, underscoring their demand for fair treatment and reinstatement of their positions.