5 teachers detained for throwing stones: DC Masud

Police dispersed a group of teachers staging a sit-in in front of the National Press Club, demanding increased house rents on Sunday. Deputy Commissioner (DC) of Ramna Division, Masud Alam, said that five teachers were taken into custody for throwing stones, while the majority were persuaded to move to the Shaheed Minar.

“Most teachers went to the Shaheed Minar. A few who refused to leave and threw stones were detained. They are not formally arrested but are in protective custody. Once their identities are verified with teacher leaders, they will be released,” Masud Alam said.

The DC stressed that the police have no intention of filing cases against teachers. “Our goal was to ensure smooth public movement. We persuaded teachers to continue their program at Shaheed Minar. A small group, however, stayed at the Press Club, so we cleared the area. Traffic is now back to normal,” he added.

Thousands of MPO-affiliated teachers from across the country began the sit-in at 10:00 am as previously announced. At noon, they visited the Finance Ministry and later returned to the Press Club. While most teachers agreed to move to Shaheed Minar, a section stayed behind to continue their protest. Police then used water cannons and sound grenades around 1:50 pm to disperse the remaining protesters.

“The closure in front of the Press Club affects the entire city and causes severe public inconvenience. The measures were intended to ensure safety and gradual dispersal,” DC Masud Alam said.