Advocate Siddique Ullah Miah, a Supreme Court lawyer, yesterday sent a legal notice to the government, requesting it to take necessary steps in seven days to recruit assistant teachers to 17,444 vacant posts at nationalised primary schools across the country in line with a High Court directive.

The lawyer told The Daily Star that the government earlier informed the HC through swearing affidavit that there were 17,444 vacant posts of assistant teacher at the registered non-government primary schools, now nationalized primary schools, across the country.

Based on the government report, the HC on May 18 this year ordered the authorities concerned to take steps for recruiting teachers to those vacant posts, said Siddique.

But the government is now trying to say that the number of vacant posts is 5,000-6,000, alleged the lawyer.