Bangladesh Trial Report:
A total of 83 candidates who passed the final selection process and were recommended for appointment as assistant teachers in government primary schools have not received their appointment letters. They have been staging a sit-in for the second consecutive day outside the Directorate of Primary Education in Mirpur, Dhaka, demanding their appointment letters. The protesters allege that they have not been informed of the reasons for withholding their letters.

The candidates were still demonstrating outside the directorate on Monday (October 12) afternoon. One of them is Md Abu Talha from Katabari Union in Gobindaganj upazila of Gaibandha district. Speaking at around 1pm on Monday (October 12), he said that although he had been recommended for appointment as an assistant teacher, he had not received his appointment letter. He added that he had not been informed why the letter was withheld.

Omar Faruk, the son of a freedom fighter, is also among the protesters. According to fellow candidates, he too has not received his appointment letter. They allege that the Directorate of Primary Education has not explained why he was excluded.

The protesters said they began their sit-in outside the directorate on Sunday morning (October 11). On that day, two of them were taken inside the directorate for discussions. However, no decision was reached, and their sit-in demanding appointment letters has continued.

Earlier on Sunday night, a section of the recommended candidates began an indefinite hunger strike to press for their appointment letters. Around 20 candidates joined the hunger strike wearing shrouds, a traditional symbol of mourning. They have announced that they will continue the protest until they receive their appointment letters.

The protesters demand a clear explanation of why they have not been issued appointment letters despite passing the written and oral examinations and receiving final recommendations for appointment. They are also calling for a swift resolution and the issuance of appointment letters in their names.

Jahid Hasan, a candidate taking part in the hunger strike, earlier alleged that they had not been informed why their appointment letters had been withheld despite receiving final recommendations. He claimed that although they had remained outside the directorate from Sunday morning until night, staging a sit-in and hunger strike, no official had met with them.

Background to the Recruitment

According to the Directorate of Primary Education, the final results of the assistant teacher recruitment process for government primary schools were published on February 8. A total of 14,384 candidates were recommended for appointment. Nearly eight months later, district-wise appointment orders were issued on September 24. Although appointment orders were subsequently issued in several phases, 83 candidates have yet to receive their appointment letters.