Police on Monday used batons, water cannons and teargas to disperse protesters blocking Shahbagh intersection in the capital, demanding the appointment of 6,531 assistant teachers in government primary schools under the third phase of recruitment in Dhaka and Chattogram divisions.

Witnesses said under the banner of ‘Recommended Government Primary School Assistant Teachers (Third Phase – Dhaka and Chattogram Divisions),’ had gathered in front of the National Museum at Shahbagh in the morning before blocking the intersection in the afternoon.

The protesters took position at Shahbagh intersection with banners around 1 pm, disrupting traffic.

Police dispersed them around 1:30 pm spraying water from cannons.

As they reassembled at Shahabagh, police lobbed teargas shells to disperse them around 3 pm.

Several female protesters fell sick and three of them were taken to Dhaka Medical College Hospital.

Police detained eight protesters from the area.

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On February 6, the High Court cancelled the process of appointing 6, 531 candidates as assistant teachers of government primary schools in Dhaka and Chattogram divisions.

The court also directed the authorities to start a fresh recruitment process based on merit.

On October 31 last year, the government published the final results of the recruitment test declaring 6, 531 candidates as successful.

Later, 30 candidates submitted a petition with the HC challenging the legality of the recruitment following the abolition of job quota system.

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After the primary hearing on November 19 last year, the court stayed the recruitment process for six months.