Staff Correspondent

Police have dispersed job seekers who blocked Shahbagh intersection demanding appointment of 6,531 assistant teachers in government primary schools in Dhaka and Chattogram divisions.

Police used water cannons to disperse the protesting job applicants around 2:30 pm on Thursday.

Job seekers who have been demanding appointment of 6,531 assistant teachers in government primary schools staged sit-in in front of National Museum at Shahbagh intersection.

Several hundred protesters took to the street around 10 am and chanted slogans in favour of their demands.

Vehicular movement on the busy road remained disrupted as one-third of the road was partially blocked due to the sit-in causing immense suffering to the commuters.

Some female teachers were seen taking shelter near the National Museum, said witnesses.

Vehicular movement from Shahbagh intersection to Kataban remained halted due to the protest.

On October 31 last year, the government published the final results of the recruitment test declaring 6, 531 candidates as successful.

Later, 30 candidates submitted a petition with the HC challenging the legality of the recruitment following the abolition of the job quota system.

After the primary hearing on November 19, 2024, the court stayed the recruitment process for six months.

The court also issued a rule asking as to why the recruitment process should not be declared illegal.

Challenging the order, the Directorate of Primary Education submitted a leave-to-appeal with the Appellate Division.

The court upheld the HC order and ordered to settle the petition within January 25.

On February 5, the HC cancelled the process of appointing 6, 531 candidates as assistant teachers of government primary schools in Dhaka and Chattogram divisions.