At least 120 primary school teachers were injured on Saturday afternoon when police swung into action to disperse their protest march at Shahbagh.
Witnesses said that the clash broke out at about 4:00pm when police intercepted the teachers鈥� 鈥楶en Surrender March鈥� that began from the Central Shaheed Minar towards Shahbagh, demanding implementation of their three-point charter of demand, including a 10th-grade pay scale.
鈥楶olice attacked us without any provocation. In protest, teachers across the country will observe a complete work abstention from Sunday,鈥� said Rakib Hossain, an assistant teacher of Mugakathi Government Primary School in Uzirpur, Barishal.
Witnesses said police resorted to baton charge and fired water cannons and sound grenades after teachers broke through police barricades near Shahbagh Police Station.
The marchers were eventually dispersed, leaving the area tense.
More than 120 injured teachers were taken to Dhaka Medical College Hospital for treatment, said inspector Md Faruk, in-charge of the hospital police camp. 鈥楳any have received treatment at the emergency unit, while some have already left the hospital after taking first aid,鈥� he added.
Following the clashes, the protesters regrouped at Shaheed Minar, where they announced to continue their sit-in until their demands are met.
Meanwhile, the Dhaka Metropolitan Police said in a statement that the protesters had gathered near Shahbagh Police Station at about 3:00pm after assembling at the Shaheed Minar.
Around 4:00 pm, some of them tried to advance toward the state guesthouse Jamuna, a restricted zone where public gatherings are prohibited.
鈥榃hen police intervened, the demonstrators hurled brick chips, injuring several law enforcers,鈥� the DMP statement said, adding, 鈥楶olice then used sound grenades and water cannons to disperse the crowd and bring the situation under control.鈥�
The DMP further stressed that the area surrounding the chief adviser鈥檚 official residence, Jamuna, remains off-limits to all rallies and gatherings, and that the protesters鈥� move toward the area prompted necessary police action.
The teachers鈥� three demands are granting assistant teachers the 10th grade pay scale, removing complications in obtaining higher grades after 10 and 16 years of service, and ensuring 100 per cent departmental promotion.
Earlier in the morning, thousands of teachers had gathered at the Central Shaheed Minar to press home their demands through peaceful demonstration.
