Candidates recommended for appointment at govt primary schools seek posting, stage sit-in at Shahbagh

The demonstrators have vowed to continue their sit-in until a specific date for their appointment is announced

Candidates recommended for assistant teacher positions in government primary schools have launched a sit-in at Shahbagh, demanding immediate appointment and posting.

The protesters gathered outside the National Museum in the morning on Sunday, claiming that although two and a half months have passed since their final selection, the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education has yet to issue their joining letters.

According to the protesters, roughly 14,500 candidates were finally selected through a rigorous merit-based process.

Following the recommendation, they completed documentation and medical examinations, but the process has since stalled.

"Many left their previous jobs expecting to join the schools by now," said Mohammad Yunus, one of the protesters.

"We are now living in uncertainty as the ministry has taken no effective steps for our appointment despite all formalities being completed."

In the afternoon, a seven-member delegation of the protesters met with State Minister for Primary and Mass Education Bobby Hajjaj at the Secretariat to seek a resolution.

According to a ministry media statement the state minister assured the delegation that the recruitment process is moving at its "natural pace" and that every step is being followed systematically.

Hajjaj urged the candidates to maintain patience and trust the ongoing process, calling on them to withdraw the protest to avoid causing public suffering.

The assurance, however, failed to satisfy the demonstrators, who vowed to continue their sit-in until a specific date for their appointment is announced.

Yunus told bdnews24.com that the protesters were alarmed by mentions of a "review" of the recruitment process by the minister.

“We found no concrete result from today’s discussion with the state minister. Therefore, our continuous sit-in will proceed. If the government announces a specific date, only then will we go home,” he said.