Madrasa teachers continue protest for 15th day with nationalisation demand
Association leaders threatened to continue the protest if they do not receive the government’s reassurance that their seven demands will be met
Teachers of registered ebtedayee madrasas on Sunday continued with their sit-in event in the capital for the 15th day, demanding nationalisation of their madrasas and jobs.
Under the banner of Bangladesh Independent Ebtedayee Madrasa Teachers' Association, more than 500 madrasa teachers from across the country gathered in front of the National Press Club in the city.
Later, they marched towards the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) at noon. On being barred by the police, a delegation from the association went to the PMO Office and submitted a memorandum.
Association leaders threatened to continue the protest if they do not receive the government's reassurance that their seven demands, including nationalisation of madrasas and jobs, will be met.
Office Secretary of the association Intaz Bin Hakim said, "We have been assured of nationalisation at various times since 2018. But those assurances have still not materialized, which is why we had no choice but to begin this protest rally in mid-November."
Md Forkan, a madrasa teacher from Patuakhali, said, "Madrasa teachers across the country are in extreme difficulty due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. We have jobs but we are not getting paid. Therefore, we are staging the demonstration to realise our rational demands. "
"Unless Prime Minister or the Education Minister makes an announcement regarding the nationalisation of madrasas and our jobs, we will continue the sit-in," he also said.
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The seven demands are as follows: nationalisation of all independent ebtedayee madrasas; amendment of the Independent Ebtedayee Madrasa Policy-2018; recruitment of office assistants in primary schools; training in Primary Training Institute (PTI) for independent ebtedayee madrasa teachers at primary level; procurement of furniture for madrasas; construction of buildings, and permanent registration.
Association President, Maulana Hafeez Kazi Faizur Rahman, presided over Sunday's sit-in.
Secretary General of Bangladesh Independent Ebtedayee Madrasa Teachers' Association, Kazi Mokhlesur Rahman; Member Secretary of the Association, Mufti Masum Billah Nafi; Senior Vice President, Bangladesh Awami Olama League, Maulana Mohammad Shahjahan; ABM Abdul Quddus, Abu Musa Bhuiyan, Md Bashir Ullah Atahari also spoke at the event among others.
