Bangladesh: Police Clash with Primary School Teachers, Multiple Injuries Reported

Synopsis

In Dhaka, police used force against private primary school teachers protesting for the nationalization of their schools. The clash resulted in injuries, emphasizing the government's failure in educational policies and the urgent need for reforms.

Key Takeaways

Teachers demanded nationalization of private primary schools.
Protests were met with police force, resulting in injuries.
Political and bureaucratic obstacles hinder school nationalization.
Additional demands for special schools include recognition and infrastructure development.
Government failure in education sector highlighted by protests.

Dhaka, March 12 (NationPress) A group of teachers from private primary schools faced baton charges and water cannons from the Bangladeshi police on Wednesday as they staged a protest against the interim government led by Muhammad Yunus for failing to meet their demand for the nationalization of primary schools.

At least six individuals, including two women, sustained injuries during the protest rally held in close proximity to the Jatiya Press Club in Dhaka.

One of the injured, Shahinur Rahman, mentioned that they were advancing towards Jamuna, the residence of Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus, from the Jatiya Press Club to advocate for their valid demands, but police responded with unjustified force.

The demonstration was organized by the Bangladesh Non-government Primary Teachers Association, according to Bangladesh's Daily Star.

"Our demand is the nationalization of private primary schools. We were heading towards Jamuna, yet faced water cannon attacks. What is the reason for such discrimination? If the government had taken appropriate actions, we wouldn't have needed to protest," stated a teacher named Liakat Ali, as reported by the Dhaka Tribune.

Previously, the association's General Secretary, Firoz Uddin, expressed that thousands of private primary schools remain unnationalized due to political motives and bureaucratic obstacles, resulting in nearly 800,000 students being deprived of their fundamental rights.

In another event on Wednesday, police intervened to disperse protesting teachers from special schools for disabled students at the Kadam Foara intersection near the National Press Club in Dhaka. The teachers were marching towards the Chief Advisor's residence to advocate for several demands put forth by the Bangladesh Special Schools Coordination Council.

These demands include the immediate recognition and inclusion of all special autistic and disabled schools in the Monthly Pay Order; development of disabled-friendly infrastructure in all special schools; provision of minimum education allowances for special students; and the provision of mid-day meals, educational materials, sports equipment, and therapy centers for students; alongside the creation of employment opportunities and rehabilitation under a vocational education curriculum, as reported by the Dhaka Tribune.

The ongoing protests against the interim government's policies highlight the current administration's incompetence in managing various sectors, including education. Just last week, multiple media outlets reported that the government has again failed to distribute textbooks to millions of students across the nation.