MPO-listed teachers announce Shahbagh blockade for Wednesday after police intercept Secretariat march
Their key demands include a 20% house rent allowance, a medical allowance of Tk1,500, and a 75% festival bonus for employees
Police today (14 October) halted a long march by teachers and employees of MPO-listed educational institutions near the High Court Mazar as part of their ongoing movement to press home their three-point demands.
The teachers, under the banner of the "Alliance for Nationalisation of MPO-listed Education", began their "Road to Secretariat" programme from the Central Shaheed Minar this afternoon after the government failed to meet their demands within the 4pm deadline.
However, police put up barricades near the High Court Mazar, intercepting their procession.
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Later in the evening, the demonstrators staged a sit-in on the road in front of the High Court Mazar and announced that if their demands are not met by 12pm tomorrow, they will blockade Shahbagh.
Meanwhile, traffic movement from Doel Chattar to Shikkha Bhaban has come to a standstill, causing severe gridlock in surrounding areas.
Speaking at the gathering, Delwar Hossain Azizi, member secretary of the alliance, said, "We will stay on the road tonight. If our demands are not met by 12pm tomorrow, we will block Shahbagh."
He also declared that classes in all MPO-listed institutions across the country would remain suspended until further notice.
The teachers warned that if the government continues to ignore their demands, they will announce tougher programmes such as a march toward the Jamuna and hunger strikes.
"We have no way to back down now. The movement has reached its final stage. The government must meet our demands," one teacher leader said.
Earlier in the day, the teachers had temporarily suspended their programme after assurances from the finance and home ministries. However, failing to receive any written confirmation, they resumed their march in the afternoon.
"We are not cancelling the programme, only suspending it for now. At the request of the administration and Hasnat Abdullah, chief organiser of the National Citizen Party [NCP] South Zone, we are holding off the long march," Azizi said.
He added, "If the Education Ministry publicly announces that our three demands have been met, we will not march towards the Secretariat. They can issue the notification at any time."
The alliance has stated there will be no negotiation on these demands, warning that if they are not met by 4pm today, the long march will proceed.
Earlier in the morning, teachers and employees of MPO-listed educational institutions announced a long march towards the Secretariat if their demands are not met by 12pm today.
Their key demands include a 20% house rent allowance, a medical allowance of Tk1,500, and a 75% festival bonus for employees.
The teachers made the announcement from their ongoing sit-in at the Central Shaheed Minar, which has entered its third consecutive day.
Visiting the venue, thousands of teachers were seen gathering, turning the protest into a charged movement.
Addressing the rally, Azizi said, "Work abstention is being observed strictly in all MPO-listed educational institutions across the country. The education sector has become paralysed and stagnant. Teachers and employees will not take part in any classes or academic activities until our demands are fulfilled."
"Our movement is now on the verge of victory," he continued. "Officials from the education and finance ministries are holding an emergency meeting. We hope to receive good news at any moment. Otherwise, our movement will take a more intense turn."
Due to the ongoing work abstention, classes have remained suspended for the past two days in most MPO-listed institutions across the country. The disruption has also affected public health initiatives such as typhoid vaccine registration and immunisation drives in several areas.
Reason behind the protest
The current continuous 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.
