Recruitment aspirants for assistant teacher positions in Dhaka and Chittagong divisions have taken to the streets, protesting their exclusion from primary school appointments despite receiving final recommendations.
After a day-long standoff with the police, they have issued a six-point ultimatum to press their demands.
Aspirant Talukder Gias announced the ultimatum on behalf of the protestors in front of the National Museum in Shahbagh on Monday evening.
Their demands include:
- Continuing the sit-in protest until their demands are met
- Immediate release of detained teachers and condemnation of alleged misconduct by male police officers towards female teachers
- Medical treatment for those injured in the police action
- Explanation for the suspension of their recruitment despite government recommendations
- Overturning the suspension and ensuring their appointment
- Rescinding the court verdict that halted their recruitment
Talukder Gias said: "Many of us left other jobs, even government positions, for this appointment. Some are now overage. This cancellation is an injustice to us."
The protesting candidates pointed out that the Primary Assistant Teacher Recruitment 2023 process was conducted in three phases.
While the first two phases and recruitment from the waiting list were completed, the final appointments for the third phase have been delayed.
According to them, the recruitment notice for the third phase was issued on June 14, 2023, with the written exam held on March 29, 2024. Results were published on April 21, followed by viva exams on June 12. With approvals from the Ministry of Law and the Ministry of Public Administration, the final results were published on October 31, recommending 6,531 candidates for appointment.
However, 31 unsuccessful candidates filed a writ petition in the High Court, leading to a six-month suspension of the recruitment process.
The denied candidates said that on January 14, a delegation met Professor Dr Bidhan Ranjan Roy, an advisor to the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education, who assured them that all 6,531 recommended teachers would be appointed.
However, after seven hearings in the Chamber Judge Court, Appellate Division, and High Court, the final recruitment results were nullified on February 6.
On Thursday, the High Court formally cancelled the appointment of the 6,531 candidates, ordering a merit-based reappointment.
The verdict was delivered by the High Court bench of Justice Fatema Najib and Justice Sikder Mahmudur Razi.
Previously, on November 19, 2023, the High Court suspended the recruitment of these candidates for six months.