MPO teachers hold black flag march, demand education adviser's resignation
The march started at the Central Shaheed Minar, proceeded around Doel Chattar, and concluded with a brief rally at Kadam Fountain
On the seventh day of their ongoing protests, teachers and employees under the Monthly Payment Order (MPO) scheme from private educational institutions held a black flag march today (18 October), to press for their three core demands, including a 20% house rent allowance, while also calling for the education adviser's resignation.
The march started at the Central Shaheed Minar, proceeded around Doel Chattar, and concluded with a brief rally at Kadam Fountain.
During the rally, teachers intensified their protest by demanding the resignation of Education Adviser CR Abrar, chanting slogans such as "CR Abrar, no longer needed".
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A protest leader also said the number of teachers joining a hunger strike is increasing.
Speaking at the rally, the aggrieved teachers voiced their frustration over what they say is a disparity in benefits.
"While the country's ministers and bureaucrats need not just house rent but the entire house, we are not even receiving our fair share of house allowance," a protester said.
"We have been sitting, sleeping, and lying on the streets of Dhaka for over a week, yet no one is listening," the teacher added.
The demonstration marks an escalation of the movement that began with a continuous sit-in protest in front of the National Press Club on 12 October 12. After the police dispersed their initial gathering, the teachers relocated to the Central Shaheed Minar.
Delwar Hossain Azizi, member secretary of the Alliance for Nationalisation of MPO Institutions, reiterated the key demands: "They must give us a 20% house rent allowance. We will not leave the Shaheed Minar until our demands are met"
He added that the number of teachers joining the indefinite strike is increasing every day, and the ongoing work stoppage at all private educational institutions will continue indefinitely.
