Dhaka, Nov. 8 -- Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) has justified the action taken to disperse a gathering of government primary school assistant teachers at Shahbagh, saying it was necessary to ensure public safety and protect key state establishments.

In a statement issued on Saturday afternoon, the DMP said the teachers, who had initially assembled at the Central Shaheed Minar to press home various demands, later gathered near Shahbagh Police Station around 3:00 pm.

According to the statement, around 4:00 pm, some protesters broke through police barricades and attempted to march towards the state guesthouse Jamuna, an area where all kinds of assemblies, rallies and gatherings are strictly prohibited.

As police intervened, the protester...