Rangamati, Nov 23 (V7N) – The Anti-Quota Unity Alliance, a student organization, has announced that it will launch a ‘shutdown’ at the Rangamati Hill District Council starting Monday morning if a new date for the primary teacher recruitment examination is not announced by 5 pm Sunday. The announcement was made Saturday night at a press conference held in Bonrupa area of Rangamati town.

Nurul Alam, a leader of the Anti-Quota Unity Alliance, said the group had submitted a memorandum to the District Council demanding that the teacher recruitment follow a transparent process in accordance with government notification 93/7. “Due to the authorities’ failure to meet the demand and their alleged inappropriate conduct, we have called for a 36-hour strike in Rangamati,” he added.

He further stated, “The District Council Chairman announced the temporary suspension of the examination in response to the spontaneous support of the people. Considering public inconvenience, we have temporarily withdrawn the strike. However, the new exam date must be announced within November.”

Alam warned that if the government notification or a confirmed exam date is not released by 5 pm Sunday, the Anti-Quota Unity Alliance will commence the shutdown at the Hill District Council from Monday morning.

Earlier, on Saturday, Rangamati Hill District Council Chairman Kajal Talukder told local journalists that the recruitment process had been temporarily suspended in light of the conflicting demands of the parties. He said the matter had been sent to the Ministry of Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs to determine which rules and guidelines would apply, and that further steps would be taken following the Ministry’s decision.

Meanwhile, a press release from the Ministry of Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs accused the Rangamati District Council of failing to properly inform the Ministry about the protests and strikes, alleging discriminatory practices and a lack of transparency in the teacher recruitment process.

According to the Ministry, the written exam for 530 vacant assistant teacher posts under the Primary Education Department of Rangamati Hill District Council was initially scheduled for November 14, 2025. To ensure a fair and transparent recruitment process, 40–45 days are required. Considering the upcoming national elections, a review meeting held at the Ministry on November 9 proposed forming 3–4 boards to expedite the examination process. However, the District Council allegedly ignored these recommendations and unilaterally announced November 21 as the exam date and later made suspension and other decisions without directly informing the Ministry.

With mounting pressure from the protesting student group and differences between the Ministry and the District Council, tensions in Rangamati are rising. If a new notification or exam date is not published by Sunday, the Anti-Quota Unity Alliance will begin the shutdown Monday morning.

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