Teacher candidates with cancelled appointments warn of ‘mass suicide’

The candidates whose appointments as assistant teachers in government primary schools in Dhaka and Chattogram divisions were cancelled by the High Court have threatened to carry out "mass suicide" if they are not appointed.

They made the threat by holding a "symbolic hanging" programme outside the National Museum in Dhaka’s Shahbagh on Saturday.

The candidates have been protesting to get back their appointments for 24 days.

The primary and mass education ministry appealed against the High Court verdict that cancelled the recruitment of 6,531 assistant teachers in government primary schools in the two divisions.

The appeal hearing is scheduled for Sunday.

The candidates hope that the verdict of the Supreme Court’s Appellate Division will be in their favour.

They staged a sit-in outside the National Museum from morning to afternoon. Later, they took out a rally titled “March for Justice' from there.

The rally turned around the Central Shaheed Minar and ended outside the National Museum. Then they stayed there overnight.

Md Mozibur Rahman Russel, a protesting candidate with the scrapped appointment from Cumilla’s Nangalkot Upazila, told bdnews24.com: "We observed a symbolic hanging programme in the afternoon to demand confirmation of the appointment.

“Six candidates dressed in shrouds demanded the restatement of the appointment at that time. Several other candidates dressed in shrouds also took part in the programme.

"We are all waiting for the verdict. We hope the Appellate Division will overturn the High Court’s decision. Otherwise, we have no choice but to die.”

He said, "I never imagined that we would have to stay on the streets even during Ramadan. But we won't give up. We will offer Taraweeh prayers outside the museum and take Sehri here."

Another candidate, Md Ashraf Uddin Ramiz, said: "This is our logical demand. We were selected based on the opinions of three ministries. Then why are ‘our’ appointments still uncertain?

"But we are extremely disappointed by the High Court's decision cancelling the teachers’ appointment. We've been on the road for 24 days! This government has recommended us, so why are there so many complications? We will not leave until the verdict is in ‘our’ favour."

On Oct 31, the final results of the third phase were published after selecting 6,531 candidates as assistant teachers in government primary schools in Dhaka and Chattogram divisions, except the three hill districts.

The notification for the appointment was issued on Jun 14, 2023.

On Feb 6, the High Court cancelled the recruitment of candidates selected under quota from Dhaka and Chattogram divisions and ordered a fresh merit-based selection.

The verdict followed a writ petition, which led the court to issue a rule on Nov 19, 2023, and suspend the recruitment process for six months, halting the appointment of the candidates.

The candidates have been protesting since that night.