Law enforcement authorities resorted to baton charges, water cannons, sound grenades, and tear gas shells to disperse independent Ibtidai madrasa teachers staging a demonstration in Shahbagh on Sunday (26 January), in pursuit of their demand for nationalisation of their employment.
The protest, organised by the Independent Ibtidai Madrasa Teachers’ Unity Alliance, commenced in front of the National Press Club earlier in the day.
The teachers, advocating a six-point charter of demands—including the nationalisation of independent Ibtidai madrasas in line with the recommendations of the Institute of Education and Research at Dhaka University—had gathered to voice their grievances.
The demonstrators subsequently announced a march towards the Chief Adviser’s Office to submit a memorandum.
As they proceeded from the National Press Club through Dhaka University premises and reached the vicinity of Shahbagh police station, law enforcement personnel deployed water cannons to halt their progress.
This was followed by the firing of two sound grenades, intensifying the confrontation.
At the time of filing this report, both the police and the protesters remained in a standoff.
