At least 33 teachers, including 11 women, were injured on Thursday as police obstructed and charged batons at agitating private college honors and master's teachers in Dhaka.
The teachers were staging a sit-in protest in front of the Shikkha Bhaban on Thursday demanding inclusion in the Monthly Pay Order (MPO) system.
The main coordinator of the movement, Md Mustafa Kamal, said that the police launched a sudden attack using sound grenades and water cannons and charged batons at teachers as they prepared for a long march.
The teachers have been protesting for the last two days.
During the third day of the sit-in, six teachers were taken to the Chief Adviser's office for a meeting, where it was informed that the Ministry of Education would provide necessary directives and take action once a proposal was sent.
As the teachers remained unconvinced, they began their long march towards the Chief Adviser’s office.
In response, police launched an attack with sound grenades and water cannons, followed by baton charges.
Chief Coordinator Md Mostafa Kamal said that the police created panic by firing sound grenades and using water cannons. At one point, they started a baton charge.
When the police tried to arrest some teachers, a few of them pleaded with the officers, but this made the police even more aggressive. One teacher, in fear, begged at the feet of the police. The teachers were humiliated in this manner, even though we were conducting a peaceful program, he added.
Another teacher, Nazneen Akhter, said that the police attacked the teachers, leaving their hands, feet, and bodies bruised. "One teacher was injured when the police unnecessarily slapped him on the ear."
Another protester Nekbor Hossain said that the teachers did not demand much and would have returned home if they had received a clear assurance of MPO (Monthly Payment Order) inclusion.
He condemned the police brutality as shocking.
He further mentioned that honors and master's level teachers at private colleges have been working without pay for 32 years, receiving only a small, irregular amount from the college. Despite the Ministry of Education being aware of this issue, no action has been taken.