1,250 local teachers laid off in Rohingya camps, protest to get jobs back

A total of 1,250 local teachers have been simultaneously sacked from NGO-run education projects in the Rohingya camps of Cox's Bazar's Ukhiya and Teknaf. Protesting their dismissal under the pretext of a fund crisis, the affected teachers staged a demonstration at the Ukhiya Central Shahid Minar premises on Saturday (31 May). The protesting teachers alleged that they were sacked without any prior notice, whereas Rohingya and outsider teachers remain in their positions as before.

They stated that if they are not reinstated in their jobs immediately, the movement of vehicles belonging to NGO and INGO organizations will be blocked. Saidul Islam Shamim, one of the teacher representatives, said, "We have been given this punishment because we raised a four-point demand last year in September, including an increase in salaries and allowances." He informed that strict programs will be announced if the demands are not met within the next 24 hours. Local politicians and social workers have also termed this layoff as 'unjust'.

Former Upazila Chairman Sarwar Jahan Chowdhury said, "If locals do not have jobs, there is no need to run education projects for the Rohingyas." Lawyer and young politician Barrister Safat Fardin Chowdhury said, "No one can make decisions by ignoring the host community. We will remain vocal against this injustice."

Engineer Rabiul Hossain, president of the Rights Implementation Committee, said, "If we do not have jobs while providing education to those whom we have sheltered, then questions arise regarding the necessity of such projects." Source: Dainik Shiksha dot com