Police charge baton on Ebtedayee Madrasa teachers
Staff Correspondent
Police on Sunday noon charged batons and used water canon on Ebtedayee Madrasa teachers as they tried to break through makeshift police barricades at Shahbagh during a march towards the Chief Adviser’s office.
Following the brief clash, at least five injured teachers received treatment at the Dhaka Medical College Hospital. Hundreds of other teachers are now holding a sit-in in front of the Faculty of Fine Arts at University of Dhaka demanding state benefits, while police maintains heavy presence at Shahbagh intersection.
Earlier, the teachers gathered in front of the National Press Club to announce their six-point demand. Later, they started a march towards the CA's office through Dhaka University. Police had already set up barricades at Shahbagh to intercept the march. Nonetheless, the teachers tried to forcibly breach the barricade, prompting police action.
The six demands of the primary level Islamic religious school teachers include:
Withdrawing a 2008 hold on the formation of a standalone Ebtedayee Madrasa Board
Drafting dedicated policies for the madrasas
Assigning code numbers to already registered institutions
Approving regulations for proper state recognition and financial benefits for the teachers
Recruiting office assistants like in government primary schools
Approving pre-primary education system in Ebtedayee Madrasas
