Police charged batons and used water cannons yesterday to disperse protesters demanding the reinstatement of 6,531 assistant teacher appointments in government primary schools.

Many protesters were injured, but they remained on the road despite the police intervention.

The protesters were continuing their sit-in at Shahbagh for the eighth consecutive day yesterday.

Police charged batons to disperse sacked police officials, who were dismissed during the Awami League government, in front of the Secretariat. Photo: Star

Over 300 candidates began gathering in front of the National Museum at Shahbagh at 9:00am, said Khaled Mansur, officer-in-charge of Shahbagh Police Station.

The law enforcers took action around 2:00pm.

Holding placards in their hands, the protesters were seen chanting slogans in support of their demands. Some had travelled from different parts of the country, and a few even brought their children along. A photojournalist reported that some protesters were also wearing shrouds.

Police used batons and water cannons to disperse the protesters, demanding reinstatement of their appointment as assistant teachers in government primary schools. Photo: Star

In another development, sacked police officials, who were dismissed at different times during the Awami League government, staged a demonstration yesterday demanding reinstatement. 

They marched towards the Secretariat from Jatiya Press Club around 12:00pm to meet the home affairs adviser with their demands.

As they took position in front of the Secretariat, law enforcers intervened and charged batons to disperse them.

The protesters claimed several of them were injured.

One of the protesters, Ayub Ali, was treated at the Dhaka Medical College Hospital, said Masud Alam, sub-inspector of DMCH Police Outpost.

Shahbagh Police Station OC Khaled Mansur said the sacked officials attacked them as well, injuring some of the police personnel.

Meanwhile, amid the doctors' work abstention, Prof Quazi Deen Mohammad, director of National Institute of Neurosciences (NINS) Hospital, has resigned.

A source from the health ministry said Deen Mohammad submitted his resignation to the ministry on Wednesday in response to the doctors' demands.

Despite repeated attempts, he could not be reached via his mobile phone. However, he was still in his office yesterday.

Meanwhile, physicians at the NINS -- the country's only tertiary care institute focused on neurological disorders -- resumed their strike for the second consecutive day, protesting against an alleged attack by outsourced staff.

All surgical procedures remained suspended. However, indoor, outdoor, and emergency services were functional.

Doctors began their work abstention in the morning, causing suffering for patients.

Dr Kalim Uddin, an associate professor, said, "We are observing the strike in protest against the attack on doctors. However, emergency patients are being treated."

The scuffle began on Wednesday morning when neuro-medicine specialist Prof Dr Gurudas Mondal was reinstated at the hospital, sparking anger among the doctors.

When doctors protested this move, third and fourth-class employees launched an attack, injuring at least 10 people, including three doctors.