Police disperse protesters at Shahbagh using water cannons

Police resorted to water cannons to disperse job seekers who blocked the Shahbagh intersection in Dhaka on Thursday, demanding the appointment of 6,531 assistant teachers in government primary schools across Dhaka and Chattogram divisions.  

The protest began around 10:00am, with several hundred of applicants staging a sit-in in front of the National Museum at Shahbagh. They chanted slogans and partially blocked the road, causing significant disruption to vehicular movement and inconveniencing commuters. Witnesses reported seeing female teachers taking shelter near the National Museum during the protest.  

Around 2:30pm, police intervened, using water cannons to clear the intersection and restore traffic flow.  

The job seekers’ protest stems from a prolonged delay in the recruitment process. On October 31 last year, the government published the final results of the recruitment test, declaring 6,531 candidates successful. However, the process was halted after 30 candidates challenged its legality in the High Court, citing the abolition of the job quota system.  

On November 19, 2024, the High Court issued a six-month stay on the recruitment and sought an explanation as to why the process should not be declared illegal. The Directorate of Primary Education appealed the decision, but the Appellate Division upheld the High Court’s order and set a deadline of January 25 to resolve the petition.  

On February 5, the High Court ultimately cancelled the appointment process, leaving the job seekers frustrated and prompting their protest.