Teachers and students of the Department of Music at the University of Dhaka staged a protest on Thursday demanding the reinstatement of music and physical education teacher posts in primary education.
The demonstration began at 11:30am in front of the university’s Oporajeyo Bangla sculpture with the singing of the national anthem.
Earlier, although the "Government Primary School Teacher Recruitment Rules 2025" gazette issued on August 28 included music and physical education teacher positions, a revised notification from the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education on Sunday removed these posts.
Following the recruitment announcement, several religious organizations and political parties raised objections and organized various programs demanding the cancellation of this decision, calling for the appointment of religious teachers instead of music teachers.
Later, the Chief Adviser's Press Wing said that the government reversed its decision because "recruiting such a small number of teachers would not yield effective results and would create inequality."
Teachers and students from the university's Drama and Dance departments showed solidarity, along with the Literature and Culture secretary of Dhaka Central Students' Union and culture secretaries from various hall unions. Singer Shayan also expressed her support.
Music department teacher Azizur Rahman Tuhin said that civilization survives on the foundation of art, literature, and culture, and that removing these subjects would hinder the mental and physical development of future generations.
He said: "If I want my child to grow up as a proper human being in the future, can I raise them to be a worthy person without music education, cultural education, and physical exercise?"
Israfil Shahin, a teacher from the Theatre and Performance Studies department, said: "When an order has been given, who cancels it? A state cannot flourish through religion alone. Culture never opposes religion."
Singer Shayan said that previously they sang protest songs, but now singing itself has become an act of protest. "There's a group trying to pit music and religion against each other. Instead of falling into this trap, respond with songs at every opportunity."
Hema Chakma, a central executive member of Ducsu, said they've seen in the media that music and physical education are being cancelled due to pressure from a specific group. She also accused elected Ducsu representatives of calling the national anthem a "pagan" song. She said: "I reject with disgust the interim government's efforts to eliminate these subjects."
Humayra Uponyas, culture secretary of Bangamata Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Hall, said that music is considered merely entertainment, but it's actually an academic subject. "The regrettable thing is that those at the policy-making level don't understand the importance of music," she said.