MPO teachers withdraw protest as govt announces raising house rent allowance to 15% in 2 phases
According to the decision, the allowance will be implemented in two phases - 7.5% from November this year and another 7.5% from 1 July 2026
MPO-listed teachers and staff of non-government educational institutions have withdrawn their protest programmes after the government decided to increase their house rent allowance to 15% of the basic salary following their continuous demonstrations.
According to the decision, the allowance will be implemented in two phases - 7.5% from November this year and another 7.5% from 1 July 2026. The Finance Division has already given conditional approval to this arrangement, officials confirmed.
Sources at the Ministry of Education said that an official circular in this regard will be issued soon.
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Delowar Hossain Azizi, member secretary of the Alliance for Nationalisation of Education, which led the movement, announced the withdrawal of the protests around 2pm today (October 21).
"We have had discussions with the government, and a gazette has been issued. We are withdrawing all our protest programmes starting today," he said.
Azizi added that teachers will return to the classrooms tomorrow, as they were unable to conduct classes for eight days during the demonstrations.
"To make up for the eight days of lost classes, all institutions will remain open on Saturdays until the annual examinations. We want the nation to understand that students are our children—we do not wish to harm them. Although it will be difficult for us, we will ensure their academic progress," he said.
Teachers and employees of non-government MPO-listed institutions had been on a hunger strike since yesterday (20 October), demanding a 20% increase in their house rent allowance. They had also given a two-day ultimatum to Education Adviser Professor CR Abrar to meet their demands.
Following the government's decision to increase the house rent allowance for MPO-listed teachers and staff, many expressed relief and appreciation.
"This gazette is a relief amidst our distress," said Mohammad Nuruzzaman Kabir, head teacher of Kurigram Nageshwari Kochakata Bahumukhi High School, speaking to The Business Standard at the Central Shaheed Minar this afternoon.
"For the first time, a residential allowance has been introduced as a percentage for MPO-listed teachers. I thank the government and all education policymakers. Ninety-seven per cent of the country's educational institutions are MPO-listed, and the desired development of education is not possible without including this 97% of the marginal population."
Nobi Hossain, Assistant Teacher of Zainal Abedin Mohiussunnah Dakhil Madrasa in Chakaria upazila of Cox's Bazar, said, "We did not get as much as we asked for, but there is a saying—something is better than nothing. We are happy with this much."
Today, around noon, teachers wearing black cloths over their mouths marched from the Central Shaheed Minar to Shahbagh as part of their sit-in demonstration.
A delegation of teachers later met with the education adviser at his office in the secretariat, where he informed them about the government's decision to raise the house rent allowance.
Teachers of MPO-listed non-government educational institutions entered the ninth consecutive day of their protest yesterday, staging a fast-unto-death and rally at the Central Shaheed Minar after rejecting the government's newly announced 5% house rent allowance based on basic salary.
The demonstration intensified as several teachers collapsed due to the heat while participating in the hunger strike.
The protesters categorically rejected the Ministry of Finance's notification, issued on 19 October, which set the house rent allowance to 5% of the basic salary (minimum Tk2,000), which they called an "injustice".
The teachers remain firm on their three core demands: increasing the house rent allowance to 20%, providing a full festival allowance (instead of the current partial amount), and increasing the medical allowance to Tk1,500.
Meanwhile, hundreds of teachers and employees from various districts across the country have poured into the Central Shaheed Minar area to join the rally and strike.
They also issued a response to the education adviser's calls the day before yesterday for them to return to classes.
The ongoing work stoppage has now kept over 30,000 private secondary and higher secondary educational institutions closed for 10 days.
Reason behind the protest
Teachers from MPO-listed schools, colleges, madrasahs, and technical education institutions across the country continued their sit-in and work abstention since 12 October, demanding the issuance of a government order to increase their allowances.
The sit-in follows an ultimatum issued by them on 13 August, demanding the nationalisation of MPO-listed private educational institutions along with increased benefits.
While the ministry reportedly agreed in principle to increase house rent to 20% and medical allowance from Tk500 to Tk1,000, it cited budget constraints and stated that implementation would be gradual.
The teachers, who have reportedly been on protest since 2011 for these benefits, are now pushing the interim government to translate the verbal assurances into official gazettes. They warned in August that failure to meet their demands would result in a continuous occupation of the press club area.
