MPO teachers issue one-month ultimatum for nationalisation
If demands are not met, they announced further actions, including a half-day work stoppage on 14 September, full-day strikes on 15–16 September, and a continuous sit-in at the Jatiya Press Club from 12 October.
Teachers from MPO-listed schools, colleges, madrasahs, and technical education institutions across the country today (13 August) issued a one-month ultimatum to the government, demanding nationalisation of private educational institutions along with four other demands.
If demands are not met, they announced further actions, including a half-day work stoppage on 14 September, full-day strikes on 15–16 September, and a continuous sit-in at the Jatiya Press Club from 12 October.
Announcing the programmes, Delwar Hossain Azizi, member secretary of the alliance for nationalisation of education, said they have been assured after talking to the education adviser today.
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However, the teachers are not willing to sit back and just be assured, he added.
"That is why we have given an ultimatum."
Although the rent has been increased by 20% for the time being, the government have to pay the same rent as government employees without any delay, he said.
Delwar said the ministry agreed in principle but cited budget constraints, adding, "The ministry has agreed with our demands. They said that it is not possible to fulfil all the demands at once. They will discuss with the finance ministry how much money will be needed to fulfil these demands."
He mentioned that they have proposed that house rent should be increased as a percentage, and the ministry would propose a 20% increase in house rent to the finance ministry, alongside raising medical allowance from Tk 500 to Tk 1,000.
Meeting with education adviser
During the rally, a 12-member teacher delegation met Education Adviser Dr CR Abrar at the Secretariat. The meeting discussed increasing house rent, medical allowance, festival allowance, and recreation allowance.
The education ministry also formed a nine-member committee, headed by Deputy Secretary Md Mizanur Rahman, to review universal transfer issues.
According to sources, teachers were asked to submit proposals on house rent adjustments, which the teachers will submit later. Preliminary assurances were given that demands would be implemented gradually.
Earlier in the day, the MPO teachers across the country staged a demonstration in front of the Jatiya Press Club, demanding a 45% house rent allowance along with other benefits.
Participants said they had travelled from different districts, with many arriving in Dhaka yesterday (12 August) to join the demonstration.
The protesting teachers warned that they would march towards the Secretariat if their demands were not met.
Witnesses said the gathering began around 9am, and within an hour, the area in front of the Press Club was filled, causing traffic congestion on one side of the road.
Kamal, a madrasah teacher from Patuakhali, said, "We have been protesting since 2011, but our hopes were not fulfilled. Now we will not return home until our demands are met."
He told The Business Standard that teachers should receive the same benefits as those in government educational institutions.
"Our delegation has already gone to the Secretariat for a meeting. We will stay here until they return," he added.
Other demands include medical and festival allowances equal to those of government employees, nationalisation of jobs, and the introduction of universal transfers.
