Ukhia (Cox's Bazar) JUNE 03 , (V7N) – Over 1,250 local Bangladeshi male and female teachers have been abruptly dismissed from their positions in schools operating within the Rohingya refugee camps in Ukhiya and Teknaf, Cox's Bazar. This mass termination, which reportedly retained Rohingya teachers, has sparked widespread protests, including demonstrations, human chains, sit-ins, and the locking of NGO offices.

On Sunday (June 1), despite hours of rain, affected teachers gathered on the Ukhiya and Teknaf highways, holding placards and festoons to voice their demands for immediate reinstatement.

Schools in the Rohingya camps are primarily run by NGOs such as BRAC, CODEC, Friendship, Mukti, Dhara, Coast Foundation, and JCF. These institutions employ both local and Rohingya teachers to educate Rohingya children in Burmese and English.

The NGOs reportedly cited a "financial crisis" as the reason for suddenly firing 1,250 local teachers. Concerns have also been raised that another 3,000 teachers may face similar dismissals in the near future. UNICEF, a key funder for education programs in the camps, has confirmed a significant drop in funding, stating that it cannot sustain operations beyond June 30, which puts an estimated 400,000 Rohingya children at risk of losing access to education.

In response to these "heinous" dismissals, the affected local teachers organized protest marches, human chains, and sit-in programs on the highway. They demanded their jobs back within 24 hours. As part of their protest, the teachers also locked the BRAC office in Teknaf's Chakmarkul Camp No. 21 and vowed to continue their movement until they are fully reinstated.

Protesting teacher Borhan Uddin questioned the NGOs' decision: "The Rohingya are sheltering in the camp from a humanitarian perspective. Rohingya teachers are also teaching in the school in the camp run by NGO Dhara. We local teachers are also teaching. They fired 1250 local teachers at once... citing financial crisis. Our demand is that if Rohingya teachers can work in that school, then why can't we? Therefore, this movement will continue if we are not fully reinstated in the next 24 hours."

Another protesting female teacher, Hosne Ara, expressed her dismay: "What did we locals do wrong, we were fired without any reason. That is why we are protesting to get our jobs back." She warned that if jobs are not returned within 24 hours, schools run by BRAC in the camps would also be locked.

Ukhia Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Muhammad Arif Hossain confirmed that the protesting teachers held a procession on the road and that police maintained security to prevent any untoward incidents, ensuring the peaceful completion of the protest.

Ukhia Upazila Executive Officer Mohammad Kamrul Islam Chowdhury acknowledged the situation, stating, "I have heard that the education project in the Rohingya camp is being closed due to financial crisis. A delegation of local teachers met me. Today's matter will be reported at a higher level." Refugee Relief and Repatriation Commissioner Mohammad Mizanur Rahman also confirmed the funding limitations leading to the education project closures and teacher dismissals.

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