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Published : 08 Nov 2025, 09:56 PM
At least 125 government primary school teachers have been injured and received treatment at Dhaka Medical College Hospital following a police crackdown on protesters demanding 10th-grade pay.
Several of the injured remain hospitalised, said Muhib Ullah, a teacher leading the protests, on Saturday.
“Our teachers have suffered injuries numbering over a hundred, with several in critical condition. We are compiling a list of the injured,” he said.
The protest began with sit-ins at Shaheed Minar on Saturday morning. Around 3:30pm, the teachers marched toward Shahbagh to conduct a pre-announced “pen surrender” campaign. By 4pm, police blocked them near Shahbagh Police Station.
Police used stun grenades, water cannons, baton charges, and tear gas, forcing the teachers to abandon their march. Teacher leaders also claimed several arrests occurred during the clashes.
Dhaka Medical College Hospital Police outpost in-charge Inspector Md Faruk confirmed at 7:45pm: “At least 125 people received treatment in the emergency department. Several are admitted. Verification is in progress.”
Returning to Shaheed Minar, the Bangladesh Primary Teachers’ Association (Kashem-Shahin) President Mohammad Abul Kashem announced a new programme of indefinite work stoppages nationwide from Sunday, alongside continuing the sit-ins in Dhaka.
Calling on all primary school teachers to join, he said: “The work stoppage across all government primary schools will continue from tomorrow until our demands are met and the arrested teachers are released.
“I appeal to all head teachers and assistant teachers nationwide to express solidarity and participate fully in the work stoppage.”
Alongside 10th-grade pay, the teachers’ other two demands include:
Resolution of promotion complications at 10- and 16-year service marks;
100 percent assurance of divisional promotions.
While the teachers insist arrests were made, police maintain no one was detained.
DMP Deputy Commissioner (Media & Public Relations) Muhammad Talebur Rahman said at 5pm: “Some protesters gathered in front of Shahbagh Police Station under the pretext of pen surrender. Around 4pm, a group attempted to break the barricades and advance toward the State Guest House Jamuna.
“When police intervened, protesters threw bricks, injuring several officers. Police then deployed multiple rounds of stun grenades and water cannons to disperse the crowd.”
The DMP statement added that gatherings, marches, and assemblies were prohibited near the chief advisor’s residence and adjacent areas.
Protesters ignored these restrictions, and police dispersed them to protect public safety and critical state facilities.
The work stoppage is being conducted under the Primary Teachers’ Demand Implementation Council, a coalition of four organisations:
Primary Teachers’ 10th Grade Implementation Council
Bangladesh Primary Teachers’ Association (Kashem-Shahin)
Bangladesh Primary School Assistant Teachers’ Association
Bangladesh Primary Teachers’ Association (Shahin-Lipi)
Bangladesh has 65,567 government primary schools employing 384,000 teachers, according to the Directorate of Primary Education.
On Apr 24, the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education upgraded head teachers’ pay from 11th to 10th grade and teachers with 13th-grade pay to 12th grade. Assistant teachers remain dissatisfied, prompting the ongoing protests.
Separately, assistant teachers under the Primary Assistant Teachers’ Unity Council issued a Nov 15 deadline for government action on 11th-grade pay, promotion complications, and 100 percent divisional promotion. They warned of protests if their demands are not met, scheduled as follows:
Nov 23–24: half-day strikes
Nov 25–26: full-day strikes
Nov 27: sit-ins at the Directorate of Primary Education
They also threatened exam boycotts and an indefinite hunger strike from Dec 11 if no visible progress or official announcements are made.
