The High Court (HC) today issued a rule questioning the legality of the government’s decision to cancel the recruitment of music and physical education (PE) teachers for primary schools.
The secretaries of the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education, along with the chairman of the Public Service Commission (PSC), have been named as respondents to the rule.
The HC bench, comprising Justice Fahmida Quader and Justice Md Ashif Hasan, issued the rule following a writ petition filed as public interest litigation by Supreme Court lawyer Sarwat Siraj Shukla, who challenged the government’s decision.
Barrister Shukla herself moved the petition before the bench, arguing that physical training and cultural activities are essential for good health and overall development, as they are directly linked to citizens’ welfare and dignity.
She referred to Article 42 of the Constitution, which guarantees citizens’ fundamental rights to welfare and dignity, affirming that every citizen has the right to good health.
Shukla also pointed out that the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) require all member states to ensure comprehensive education and robust health services. She argued that the government’s decision undermines constitutional rights and distances Bangladesh from meeting its SDG commitments.
Highlighting the scale of the issue, Shukla noted that Bangladesh has around 65,000 schools serving millions of students. She emphasised that, beyond academic learning, students need access to cultural activities, physical education, and sports to ensure their holistic development.
She warned that without sufficient teachers to facilitate these essential activities, future generations may struggle to develop as athletes or cultural practitioners, potentially causing long-term negative effects on the country’s national capacity and growth.