Home
+
Published : 26 May 2025, 11:09 PM
The interim government has raised the festival allowance for teachers listed under the Monthly Pay Order (MPO) scheme at non-government schools, colleges, madrasas, and technical institutions across Bangladesh.
Teachers will now receive 50 percent of their basic salary as a festival bonus, up from 25 percent, which had remained unchanged since 2004.
But MPO category employees, who currently receive 50 percent, were left out of the hike, though the original proposal sought to raise their share to 75 percent.
The Finance Division issued the order on Monday, making it effective from the date of issue.
The directive was sent to the senior secretary of the Secondary and Higher Education Division and the secretary of the Technical and Madrasa Education Division under the education ministry.
Speaking to bdnews24.com, Finance Division's Regulation Subdivision Deputy Secretary Mosammat Sharifunnnesa said: “The festival allowance for teachers has been increased from 25 to 50 percent.
“For MPO-listed employees, the previous 50 percent remains unchanged.”
On Apr 21, the Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education submitted a proposal to the Secondary and Higher Education Division, suggesting an increase in the teachers’ festival bonus from 25 to 50 percent of basic salary, and from 50 to 75 percent for MPO category employees.
To support the increase, the directorate requested a reallocation of Tk 2.29 billion.
The proposal was forwarded to the Finance Division the same day.
Although the Finance Division approved the reallocation on May 7, the official order only mentioned teachers.
Speaking to bdnews24.com on May 18, Muhammad Azad Khan, director general of the Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education, confirmed the proposal had included both teachers and employees.
“We are in contact with the education ministry to revise the order,” he said.
On 13 May, the Technical and Madrasa Education Division sent a similar proposal to the Finance Division, seeking a raise for teachers under MPO-listed technical and madrasa institutions.
Despite budget approval for both categories, the Finance Division did not provide a clear reason for excluding employees in the final order.
Asked why, Sharifunnnesa said she could not confirm the reason.
“I processed the matter as a desk officer,” she added.
The announcement to increase festival and other allowances came on Mar 5 from the then education advisor Wahiduddin Mahmud amid a movement by teachers demanding 100 percent festival bonus, housing and medical allowances as per government rules, and nationalisation of MPO institutions.
The teachers suspended their 22-day protest the following day, on Mar 6, after receiving the assurance.
