Several people were injured as police charged batons, fired sound grenades and used water cannons to disperse a group of government primary school teachers during a demonstration in Dhaka's Shahbagh this afternoon.

The incident took place around 3:50pm near Shahbagh when the teachers tried to march there after staging a sit-in at the Central Shaheed Minar to press home their three-point demand, including upgrading their pay scale to the 10th grade.

The protest, organised under the banner of Prathomik Shikkhok Dabi Bastobayon Parishad (Primary Teachers' Demand Implementation Council), began around 9:00am. The teachers had earlier announced a symbolic "pen drop" programme at Shahbagh as part of their movement.

As they attempted to move towards Shahbagh, police intercepted them, triggering a chase and counter-chase. Officers then fired tear gas shells and sound grenades to disperse the protesters, witnesses said.

According to police, the situation escalated after some of the demonstrators tried to break through the barricades and hurled brick chips.

"One group of teachers informed us that they would return to the Shaheed Minar. They peacefully dropped their pens," said Masud Alam, deputy commissioner of DMP's Ramna Division.

"But shortly after, another group tried to force their way through our barricade and hurled brick chips. We then dispersed them. Some of our officers were also injured."

The teachers, however, alleged that police attacked their peaceful demonstration without provocation.

Witnesses said after police fired sound grenades, the teachers scattered and took shelter in different parts of the Dhaka University area.

"Police laid their hands on us and beat us with batons," one teacher said. "My clothes were torn. We never expected this kind of behaviour from the police of this government."

By 4:15pm, a large number of police personnel were deployed at the scene.

Their key demands include implementing the 10th-grade pay scale, resolving issues related to higher-grade eligibility after 10 and 16 years of service, and ensuring 100 percent departmental promotion.

Four organisations — Bangladesh Primary Teachers' Association, Bangladesh Primary School Assistant Teachers' Association, Bangladesh Primary Teachers' Association, and Assistant Teachers 10th Grade Implementation Council — jointly organised the demonstration.