Dismissed Rohingya camp teachers block Cox’s Bazar-Teknaf road, demanding job reinstatement

Due to the blockade, severe traffic congestion has occurred on the busy road since the morning. Hundreds of vehicles, including buses and goods-laden trucks, remained stuck on both sides of the road at Kotbazar station, causing significant suffering for passengers and drivers alike

Teachers who were dismissed from a Unicef-funded project in Cox’s Bazar Rohingya camps staged a protest today by blocking the Cox’s Bazar-Teknaf road, demanding reinstatement in their jobs.

They started the road blockade at 6am at the Kotbazar station on the Cox’s Bazar-Teknaf road, disrupting traffic, said Ukhiya Upazila Nirbahi Officer Mohammad Kamrul Hossain Chowdhury.

In addition, the protesters also went on an indefinite hunger strike to press their demands.

Due to the blockade, severe traffic congestion has occurred on the busy road since the morning. Hundreds of vehicles, including buses and goods-laden trucks, remained stuck on both sides of the road at Kotbazar station, causing significant suffering for passengers and drivers alike.

“Police, RAB, and army personnel are working at the scene to bring the situation under control,” said the Ukhiya UNO.

Protesting teachers alleged they were dismissed from their jobs all of a sudden and without any reason. Having lost their livelihoods, they now face uncertainty along with their families, they said.

Mentioning that the issue primarily lies between the Office of the Refugee Relief and Repatriation Commissioner, Unicef and the protesting teachers, the UNO said the administration is continuing discussions with the relevant parties to address the matter.

However, attempts to contact relevant officials at the Office of the Refugee Relief and Repatriation Commissioner over the phone regarding the matter were unsuccessful.