The grand rally of primary teachers demanding 10th grade for head masters and 11th grade for assistant teachers has been dispersed by police.
On Wednesday (Oct 23) afternoon, teachers congregated at the central Shaheed Minar; later, dispersed by police, the group divided in two. On section began demonstration in front of the Curzon Hall.
Teachers have given the government until Nov 13 to fulfil their demands. They have also threated to boycott annual exams and lock up schools if their demands are not met within the stipulated time.
President of the Primary School Teachers’ Association, Badrul Alam, said: “The police resorted to lathi charge at the Shahid Minar; several teachers, including the general secretary Sabera Khatun has been wounded.”
In demand of an end to salary disparity, teachers also refrained from work for four days. On Oct 17, they observed a full day work strike.
As part of the agitation they declared the demonstration at the Shaheed Minar on Oct 23, though DG of the Department of Primary Education, DPE, ordered the teachers through a letter to refrain from joining the demonstration and report to their work places.