Candidates recommended for the post of assistant teacher at a government primary school in the capital’s Shahbagh have been holding a sit-in demanding their immediate joining and posting. They took up a position on the road in front of the National Museum from 11 am on Sunday, temporarily blocking traffic on the road. Later, the police arranged for vehicles to move on the other side of the road.

The protesters claim that although the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education has set the joining date for October 1, they want to join by August. They have announced that they will continue the agitation until a written notification is issued specifying the specific date for joining and posting to the school.

Debabrata Sarkar, one of the coordinators of the protesters, said that although the demand to ensure joining by July 29 was made, it was not implemented. They received a final recommendation for appointment about six months ago, but have not yet had the opportunity to join. As a result, many of them have left their previous jobs and are unemployed and are in financial and social crisis, he claimed.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education said in a statement on Sunday that 14,384 recommended candidates will join the respective district primary education offices on October 1. Earlier, the ministry had announced that they would join on October 29. Although the decision was changed and a new date was announced during the preparation of the movement, the protesters rejected it.

In late 2025, a notification was published for the recruitment of assistant teachers in government primary schools in 61 districts in two phases. More than 830,000 candidates took part in the written examination against 14,385 posts. After the oral examination, 14,384 people were finally recommended for appointment. Later, after the change of government, raising questions about the recruitment process, the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education ordered a police verification of the recommended candidates on May 10.