Teachers have launched a protest by blocking roads in front of the National Press Club in Dhaka, demanding a reevaluation of the results of the 18th Teacher Registration Examination.
The demonstration began at 10am on Sunday, with over 2,000 teachers from across the country gathering in front of the Press Club. Police attempted to disperse them using water cannons but were unsuccessful. While the protesters eventually moved to one side of the road, traffic movement remained disrupted.
Examinees have accused the authorities of discrimination and arbitrary practices during the viva voce (oral) segment of the exam. Protesting teachers stated, “The results of the registration exam reflect bias and irregularities. The outcome must be reconsidered, and certificates should be issued fairly.”
On June 4, the National Teacher Registration and Certification Authority (NTRCA) published the results of the 18th Teacher Registration Exam. Out of 81,209 candidates who appeared for the viva, 60,521 passed.
Protesting teachers alleged, “Nearly 23,000 candidates were unfairly failed in the viva despite answering correctly. The NTRCA still has remnants of the previous fascist regime, who are trying to embarrass the current government.”
They demanded the immediate cancellation of the “discriminatory” results and vowed to continue their sit-in protest until their demands are met.