Police have dispersed a group of madrasa teachers who attempted to march towards the official residence of the Chief Adviser, demanding the nationalisation of independent ebtedayee madrasahs, at the Shahbagh intersection of the capital.

Witnesses said a group of Madrasa teachers from all registered Ebtedayee madrasas under the Bangladesh Madrasa Education Board, brought out a procession on Sunday and gathered in Shahbagh area to press home their various demands, including the nationalisation of independent ebtedayee madrasahs.

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Their demands include lifting the stay order on the registration of independent ebtedayee madrasahs, including unregistered madrasas under the madrasa Education Board’s code system, steps to allow pre-primary classes in independent ebtedayee madrasahs like primary schools, drafting a separate policy for independent ebtedayee madrasahs, granting permission for teaching recognition, salary and allowances, approval of the policy for 2025, and taking measures to recruit office assistants like primary schools.

When they tried to march towards the Chief Adviser’s residence around 12:40 pm, police obstructed and dispersed them.

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Police also fired water cannons and fired sound grenades to disperse the protesters.

Sources said the Independent Ebtedayee Madrasa Teachers Oikya Jote has been staging a sit-in in front of the Jatiya Press Club for the past several days to press home their six-point demand, including the nationalisation of independent ebtedayee madrasahs like primary schools.

The group also announced to march towards the Chief Adviser’s residence and submit a memorandum in this regard on Sunday.

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Md Khalid, officer-in-charge of Shahbagh Police Station, said the situation has been brought under control, and additional forces have been deployed to prevent further trouble.