Shawdesh Desk:

The ibtedayi madrassah teachers continued blocking a portion of the Kazi Nazrul Islam Avenue inside the Dhaka University campus for the second consecutive day on Monday demanding nationalisation of the ibtedayi madrassahs.

Earlier at least five people were injured when the police on Sunday in Dhaka city dispersed a group of ibtedayi madrassah teachers at Shahbagh crossing while they were attempting a march towards the chief adviser’s official residence.

After the incident, the teachers blocked a portion of the Kazi Nazrul Islam Avenue inside the DU campus starting at about 1:00pm on Sunday that continued till night.

Amid huge police presence, they resumed the blockade on Monday morning and vowed to continue their movement until their demands were met.

The blockade caused huge traffic congestion on the Dhaka University campus and Shabagh areas.

Under the banner of Independent Ibtedayi Madrassah Teachers’ Unity Council, the teachers coming from across the country began staging a sit-in programme in front of the National Press Club on January 19 which continued as of Monday.

The demands of the platforms are—nationalisation of the ibtedayi madrassahs like the government primary schools, cancelation of the Independent Ibtedayi Madrassah registration stay order 2008, code numbers for all registered madrassahs, approval for the separate guidelines, teaching method, recognition, salary and allowance, appointment of office assistants and approval for opening pre-primary classes in these madrassahs.