At least 50 Ebtedayee madrasa teachers were injured on Wednesday as police used water cannons, sound grenades, and tear shells to disperse demonstrators attempting to march toward the Secretariat after breaking a police barricade in the capital.
Md Faruk, in-charge (inspector) of the Dhaka Medical College Police Camp, said around 50 teachers injured in the Press Club area were brought to Dhaka Medical College Hospital, where they received treatment at the emergency department.
The madrasa teachers had gathered in front of the National Press Club demanding the nationalisation of independent Ebtedayee madrasas. Their pre-announced programme was to move from the Press Club toward Paltan, but around 2pm, they breached a police barricade on Link Road near the Secretariat, prompting police intervention, Shahbagh Police Station Officer-in-Charge Khalid Mansur told TIMES of Bangladesh.
He confirmed that sound grenades and water cannons were used to bring the situation under control.
The protesting teachers said they had been staging a sit-in in front of the National Press Club for 17 consecutive days, pressing for nationalisation of independent Ebtedayee madrasas and several other demands.
Their key demands include the gradual nationalisation of all independent Ebtedayee madrasas, both with and without government grants; immediate issuance of a gazette to include the recommended institutions under the Monthly Pay Order (MPO) scheme; lifting the 2008 ban on registration of independent Ebtedayee madrasas; appointing office assistants similar to those in government primary schools; and introducing pre-primary classes like in primary schools.
Gazette to be issued after CA’s approval
Sources at the Technical and Madrasa Education Division said recommendations have already been made to fulfil part of the teachers’ demands.
Md Abdul Hannan, deputy secretary (MPO) of the division, told TIMES, “The Office of the Chief Adviser sought information on several issues. After thorough verification, recommendations have been sent to include 1,089 independent Ebtedayee madrasas under the MPO scheme.”
SM Masudul Haque, joint secretary (Madrasa Subdivision) of the division, said the gazette would be issued as soon as the Chief Adviser signs the recommendation.
“The Education Adviser and the secretary have already signed and forwarded the recommendation to the Chief Adviser’s Office. Once the Chief Adviser approves it, the gazette will be issued,” he said.
Regarding the demand for nationalisation, Masudul Haque said, “That will come in the next phase. First, the institutions need to be brought under the MPO scheme, for which recommendations have already been made. After the National Parliament becomes functional, there is a plan to nationalise the Ebtedayee madrasas subject to fulfilling the board’s requirements.”
He added that introducing pre-primary classes in independent Ebtedayee madrasas is also part of future plans.
Tasnim Jara visits injured madrasa teachers, calls police action ‘shameful’
Tasnim Jara, Senior Joint Member-Secretary of the National Citizen Party (NCP), visited Dhaka Medical College Hospital on Wednesday evening to meet independent Ebtedayee madrasa teachers injured after police used water cannons, batons, and sound grenades during a protest near the National Press Club.
She spoke with the injured teachers and checked on their treatment, later telling reporters that many had suffered head, hand, and leg injuries, while some lost hearing. “It is deeply shameful that peaceful teachers were attacked this way. Such incidents must be investigated, and justice ensured,” she said.
Tasnim added that teachers should be in classrooms, not on the streets, and criticised the government for forcing them to protest again for a promise already made earlier this year.
She also urged the authorities to act on the Reform Commission’s recommendations without further delay, saying delays and poor implementation only create instability.
According to the Technical and Madrasa Education Division, the Independent Ebtedayee Madrasa Policy 2025 was formulated in June. Under this policy, the 2008 suspension on madrasa registration is no longer in effect.
New applications for madrasa registration can now be submitted, and if the board finds that institutions meet the required criteria—such as having sufficient teachers, students, and infrastructure—registration will be granted. Previously unregistered madrasas meeting the conditions will also be brought under official board coding.
