A prescheduled programme of the teachers of the secondary-level schools under the monthly pay order system to lay siege to the Bangladesh Secretariat was cancelled on Wednesday following detention of a leader.
Members of law enforcement agencies on the day detained Sheikh Kawser Ahmed, president of Bangladesh Teachers’ Association, in Dhaka after some rivals allegedly beat him labelling him as a collaborator of the fascists.
Protesting at the detention and attack, the teachers and employees announced to observe work abstention across the country today, demanding immediate release of their leader.
The protesting teachers, under the banner of the Unity Council of Teachers and Employees, were scheduled to lay siege to the Bangladesh Secretariat on Wednesday from 12:00 noon, pressing for their job nationalisation and pay hike which they demanded to be met before coming Eid-ul-Azha.
The association’s general secretary Md Shamim Al Mamun told ¶¶Òõ¾«Æ· that while they were gathering in front of the National Press Club for their programme at about 11:00am on Wednesday, some 50 men from another faction of the association attacked them and beat Kawser Ahmed.
‘This other group labelled us as collaborators of the previous Awami League regime which is absurd,’ he said, alleging that some of them were injured in the scuffle.
Meanwhile, Shahbagh police officer-in-charge Khalid Monsur said that they saved Kawser from the mob and brought him to the police station.
‘Some people were beating him calling a fascist,’ he said, adding, ‘Later we found that there are three murder cases already filed against Kawser.’
Khalid said that Kawser was sent to Dhaka Medical College Hospital for primary treatment and then he would be handed over to the Detective Branch as there was a case filed against him by the DB with the Jatrabari police.
At about 1:30pm at Shahbagh police station, Kawser was seen lying on the floor in a room.
Following the incident, the prescheduled programme of the association to lay siege to the secretariat was cancelled.
Later in the afternoon, the association held a press conference at its office in Dhaka demanding Kawser Ahmed’s immediate release.
Shamim Al Mamun said that they and the employees of all schools under the MPO system would observe work abstention on Thursday.
‘We will be present at the educational institutions but will not work,’ he said.
Under the banner of the unity council, the teachers and employees were continuing an indefinite period of sit-in in front of the National Press Club in Dhaka city since May 17.
On March 5, then education adviser Wahiduudin Mahmud announced an increase in the festival, medical and recreation allowances and house rent of the teachers from this Eid-ul-Azha. At the time he also said that a fund was created for retirement benefits.
His announcement came after the MPO teacher enforced a 22-day strike.
Following the announcement the teachers on March 6 postponed their strike till Eid-ul-Azha.