Primary Teachers on Hunger Strike Inside Police Station

Five primary school teachers arrested during protests are now on hunger strike inside the police station, while educators nationwide have declared an indefinite work boycott (halting classes) in government primary schools. Speaking on behalf of the Primary Assistant Teachers' Association Unity Council, leaders vowed to continue the movement until demands for 10th grade pay scale, resolution of 10- and 16-year promotion delays, and 100% departmental advancement are met.

Convener and Central President of the Primary School Assistant Teachers' Association, Shamsuddin Masud, told The Daily Campus this morning that the five detainees began their fast inside the station. "Police said they'll release them if we stop the agitation, but we'll persist. The boycott started today across the country, and our sit-in at Central Shaheed Minar continues."

The arrested teachers are: Md. Mahbubur Rahman, Md. Abdul Kader, Md. Nurul Islam (Liton), Md. Shariful Islam, and Sohan. They started the hunger strike in custody.

Yesterday, teachers ended a sit-in at Central Shaheed Minar with a 'pen surrender program' and marched toward Shahbagh for their three-point demands. Police halted them, leading to clashes. Sound grenades and tear gas scattered the crowd, forcing educators to seek shelter in DU area; several fell ill.

The demands include upgrading assistant teachers to 10th grade, permanent resolution of promotion complexities after 10 and 16 years of service, and 100% departmental advancement.

DG Primary Education data shows 65,567 government primary schools with nearly 3.84 lakh teachers. On April 24, the Primary and Mass Education Ministry upgraded head teachers from 11th to 10th and 13th to 12th grade, but assistant teachers protested, demanding similar raises.

Another faction, the Primary Assistant Teachers' Association Unity Council, gave a November 15 deadline. If unmet, they'll hold half-day boycotts on November 23-24, full-day on 25-26, and sit-in at DG Primary Education on 27. They warned of exam boycotts and hunger strikes if no progress by December 11.