Primary teachers lift Shahbagh blockade after joining date brought forward

The newly recruited primary school teachers withdrew their blockade on a road near the Shahbagh intersection on Sunday noon shortly after the government brought forward their joining date.

The protesters decided to leave the area around 2pm after the government issued a notification, announcing 1 October as the new joining date. The previous joining date was 29 October.

The around 14,384 teachers recommended for appointed would be assigned duties on 4 October, the notification read.

Following the announcement, the protesters lifted their blockade on the road linking Shahbagh intersection and TSC at Dhaka University. They also cleaned the road.

Earlier in the morning, a section of the teachers launched the movement, demanding the government assign them due roles this month. They alleged that even after crossing all the required steps in the recruitment process, their appointment had been held up for a “long time.”

Before launching the blockade, they recited verses from holy scriptures, sang the national anthem and observed a minute’s silence in memory of fellow recommended teachers who have died.

Police maintained a strong presence in the area to deter any untoward incident.

The recruitment exams were held in 61 districts on 9 January, and results were published on 8 February, but no further visible progress had been made until this month.

On Saturday, Sakhawat Hossain, secretary at the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education, said the delays were caused by “investigation and procedural hurdles.” The recommended teachers can formally join on 29 October, he had said.