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The Dhaka University unit of Jatiya Chhatra Shakti, the student wing of the National Citizens Party (NCP), on Friday held a “Red Card to BNPization” programme, alleging political discrimination in the recruitment of government primary school teachers.
The human chain was held at the Raju Memorial Sculpture on Dhaka University campus around 7:30pm.
The protesters demanded an end to political discrimination in public-sector recruitment, an impartial investigation into alleged irregularities, reinstatement of candidates whose appointments were cancelled following verification, and a transparent, merit-based recruitment process.
Addressing the programme, Kurratul Ain Kaniz, vice-president of the Shamsun Nahar Hall Students’ Union, alleged that meritorious young jobseekers who had participated in the 2024 mass uprising were now facing harassment and obstacles during the recruitment process.
She accused the government of obstructing the recruitment of qualified candidates and said Chhatra Shakti, along with students and members of the public across the country, would stand by affected jobseekers.
“We are showing a red card to the BNP government,” she said.
Kaniz also called for the immediate reinstatement of candidates whose appointments had reportedly been cancelled despite being recommended for government positions.
Hasib Al Islam, president of the DU unit of Chhatra Shakti, alleged that political affiliation was being given undue importance in government appointments.
“Their only qualification is that they are BNP leaders or activists. No country can run this way,” he said.
Hasib also alleged that students and members of the public were being harassed in the name of police verification and called for an immediate end to such practices.
He demanded that the alleged politicisation of primary teacher recruitment and the exclusion of qualified candidates be reversed. He said candidates allegedly excluded on political grounds should be given appropriate remedies, while political affiliation should neither be a basis for granting nor denying government employment.
He urged the government to uphold what he described as the spirit of the July mass uprising by building a state based on equality and free from discrimination.
The protest comes amid controversy over the appointment process for government primary school assistant teachers.
The Directorate of Primary Education had instructed that appointment letters be issued to recommended candidates subject to, among other conditions, positive police verification.
Separately, the Dhaka University unit of Islami Chhatra Shibir also called for an end to alleged harassment and discrimination in government recruitment and demanded an impartial investigation, remedies for affected candidates and a transparent, merit-based recruitment system.
The Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (DUCSU) likewise demanded prompt action for candidates who have not received appointment letters for primary school teaching posts and called for an end to harassment in the name of verification.
Recent reporting has found that hundreds of recommended candidates had not received appointment letters in several districts, although the reasons for individual cases require verification by the relevant authorities.
