Police launches baton-charge on Ukhia teachers' protest, 30 detained

At least 30 people, including student coordinators, were detained on Wednesday (August 20) after police charged batons on a protest by recently dismissed teachers at the Rohingya camps in Ukhia, Cox’s Bazar.

The protest was organised to demand the reinstatement of over 1,200 local teachers recently terminated by NGOs operating in the camps, including UNICEF, allegedly due to funding shortages.

The detainees include student leaders Jinia, Nowshad, Shamim, and Rana.

The police baton charge left at least five people injured, though their identities were not confirmed.

Regarding the incident, Cox’s Bazar Additional Superintendent of Police (Media) Md. Jashim Uddin Chowdhury said, “The protesters were dispersed to ease public suffering. The situation is now under control. Several individuals have been taken into custody, and further action will be taken after reviewing their cases.”

A meeting was also held with the dismissed teachers the previous day, the OC confirmed.

Local Bangladeshi teachers have been involved in providing education to Rohingya children for years. The recent mass dismissals have triggered widespread outrage, with teachers accusing NGOs of sidelining locals without proper justification.

Earlier, on Monday (August 18), the dismissed teachers staged a five-hour blockade on the Cox's Bazar-Teknaf Shaheed ATM Zafar Alam Highway, disrupting traffic and stranding hundreds of vehicles.

Protesting teachers claim they were forced to escalate demonstrations after the authorities repeatedly failed to act on their demands, despite prior assurances.