Bandarban: Scores of indigenous people Wednesday laid a siege to roads and waterways in the upcountry Thanchi upazila to press their demand for appointing “permanent residents” and freedom fighters to the posts of assistant teacher in government primary schools.

The tribal people brought out a procession in the upazila headquarters on Tuesday morning in support of their siege programme.

Police sources informed security was beefed up in the area to keep the situation under control.    

It was learnt that a written test was held on May 7, 2010 under the Bandarban Hill District Council for appointing primary teachers. But the authorities recruited most of the candidates from outside the upazila to the posts, “violating the quota system for the indigenous people and freedom fighters”, the indigenous leaders alleged.

Chashathoai Marma and John Tripura, members of the Teacher Recruitment Implementation Movement Committee, threatened to throw more agitation programmes, including hartal, if their demand is not met.

They will also submit a memorandum to Bir Bahadur MP, chairman of Chittagong Hill Tracts Development Board, in this regard.

Indigenous job seekers and their guardians Sunday laid a siege to roads and waterways in Ruma upazila on the same demand.

BdST: 12:12 Hrs. 2010
SMM/LY/MUA