More than 100 people were injured Sunday as police used batons, sound grenades, and water cannons to disperse protesting primary school teachers in Dhaka’s Shahbagh area, authorities said.
The teachers, demanding higher pay and promotions, had gathered under the banner of the Prathomik Shikkhok Dabi Bastobayon Parishad and later announced an indefinite nationwide strike.
Police said the protesters tried to breach security barriers near the Public Library.
“A group of teachers peacefully dropped their pens and informed us that they would return to the Shaheed Minar. However, another group tried to force their way through our barricade and hurled brick chips shortly after. We then dispersed them,” said Masud Alam, deputy commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police, Ramna Division, to The Daily Star.