Primary Teachers End Street Demonstration Following Official Posting Announcement

Amid humid weather punctuated by light showers, hundreds of candidates selected for assistant teacher positions in state primary schools gathered in front of the National Museum at Shahbagh, Dhaka. Their sit-in demonstration aimed to press the government for immediate job postings after months of administrative delay.

The protest officially commenced shortly after 11:00 am, prompting law enforcement officers to erect barricades that temporarily restricted traffic along one side of the road heading towards the Teacher-Student Centre (TSC). In a striking gesture, demonstrators greeted duty officers with flowers before opening their gathering with the national anthem. As midday approached, turnout swelled, with crowds stretching past the Faculty of Fine Arts.

Among the demonstrators were Sweety Akter Shanta from Munshiganj and Shahina Akter, an alumnus of Rajshahi University. Both had pursued teaching out of a shared passion for educating young children. However, their professional ambitions were halted despite passing all rigorous selection stages.

The recruitment drive saw 14,384 candidates officially selected for assistant teacher roles on 8 February. By March, medical examinations and document verification processes were successfully completed. Despite fulfilling all official criteria, the government refrained from issuing posting notices for months.

Demonstrators highlighted that 175 days had elapsed since the publication of the final results, causing immense mental distress among successful candidates. Tragically, organizers noted that two selected teachers passed away during this prolonged waiting period, whilst at least 15 parents died before witnessing their children join the civil service.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, a candidate argued that if irregularities occurred anywhere in the recruitment system, successful candidates should not bear the penalty. They stressed that withholding postings after completing all background checks lacked logical justification.

Relief arrived by early afternoon when the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education released an official notification. The Ministry confirmed that successful candidates would formally join service on 1 October, with their school postings finalised by 4 October.

News of the announcement brought visible relief to the crowd. Before dispersing, the newly appointed teachers demonstrated civic responsibility by taking up brooms and sacks to clean the entire demonstration area at Shahbagh. Armed with firm joining dates after a 175-day ordeal, Shanta, Shahina, and thousands of fellow educators finally returned home.