Unemployed teachers continue protest at Bikash Bhavan, bring Tagore's figure to condemn police action

The protest by unemployed teachers and education workers outside Bikash Bhavan entered its third day on Saturday. The sit-in began on Thursday at 12 noon, with participants occupying the road in front of the state education department headquarters. The protestors, who claim to have completed all required qualifications, are demanding immediate appointments and allege prolonged delays in the recruitment process. They continue to sit peacefully on the road despite no official response from the authorities.

On Saturday morning, a person dressed as Rabindranath Tagore arrived at the protest site and addressed the gathering in support of the demonstrators. The initiative was organised by the INTUC Seva Dal to extend moral support. The performer said, “Teachers being beaten and humiliated is an insult to education. That is what the police did in front of Bikash Bhavan on Thursday.” Roses were handed to the police personnel deployed at the site, with the performer adding, “Bangla means a land of peace and harmony. We wanted to remind the police of that message.”

The demonstration follows allegations of police action on Thursday during the early hours of the protest. Protesters allege that the police used force to disperse the gathering. Since then, demonstrators have remained at the location, continuing their sit-in without any reported violence. INTUC has termed the symbolic tribute a peaceful response to the incident and a sign of continued solidarity with the teachers' movement.