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Published : 21 Feb 2025, 03:22 AM
Frustrated by stalled negotiations with government officials, teachers demanding nationalisation of MPO-affiliated educational institutions and improved benefits have escalated their protest, launching a symbolic hunger strike this time.
The two-day demonstration, scheduled for Friday and Saturday, follows nine days of sit-in protests in front of the National Press Club under the banner of the “MPO-Bhukto Shikkha Jatiyakaran Protyashi Jote” or “Alliance seeking nationalisation of the MPO-listed educational institutions”.
The protesting teachers are calling for a full festival allowance, along with housing and medical benefits at the same level as government employees.
Delwar Hossain Azizi, member secretary of the alliance, expressed discontent following a meeting with the education ministry at the Secretariat on Thursday.
“The discussions with ministry officials at the secretariat have yielded no results,” Azizi told bdnews24.com.
“That is why we are moving forward with a symbolic hunger strike on Friday and Saturday.”
Teachers argue that the disparity in benefits between MPO-affiliated educators and government employees is untenable.
Currently, these teachers receive only 25 percent of their basic salary as a festival allowance, whereas government employees receive a full 100 percent.
“We want a 100 percent festival allowance for the upcoming Eid, along with housing and medical benefits at the same rate as government employees,” Azizi said.
“If the government announces 100 percent festival allowance and increases in other allowances before Eid, we will return to class.”
Md Habibullah Raju, joint member secretary of the alliance, echoed similar sentiments, criticising the government’s lack of action.
“We waited for an hour at the Secretariat, but there was no discussion because the advisor was absent,” he said.
“Despite our continued sit-ins and work stoppages, the government has taken no visible steps to address our concerns.”
Habibullah, an assistant teacher at Khalilpur High School in Pabna’s Sujanagar, contends that nationalising all MPO-listed institutions would not burden the government financially.
“If the income from these institutions is transferred to the government treasury, nationalisation would be feasible without financial strain,” he argued.
Government officials, however, have acknowledged the teachers’ grievances.
Speaking after a session of the District Commissioner’s Conference on Sunday, Education Advisor Wahiduddin Mahmud conceded that MPO-listed teachers are among the most overlooked in the country’s education system.
“I will do whatever I can for them,” Mahmud told journalists.
He added that the government is working to facilitate online transfers for teachers and to gradually increase their allowances.
“Their current allowance is insufficient,” Mahmud admitted.
“We are trying to improve it within our financial constraints.”
Mahmud also addressed concerns about teachers’ retirement benefits, describing the failure to provide these payments as “highly immoral”.
While he acknowledged that addressing the issue would require more than a single-year budget, he revealed that discussions are underway to establish a fund through bonds, potentially launching next year.
