Tarique seeks teachers support for reform-oriented govt

BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman on Tuesday urged teachers across Bangladesh to support his party in the upcoming national election, saying their backing is vital to form a “knowledge- and merit-based government” capable of implementing national and political reforms.

“To implement all the plans BNP has taken for the development of the state, politics, and governance, spontaneous support from the people is essential. Support from teachers — the most conscious section of society — is also needed,” Tarique said.

Speaking virtually at a grand teachers’ rally organised by the Shikkhok-Karmachari Oikya Jote, a BNP-leaning platform, at Suhrawardy Udyan in Dhaka to mark World Teachers’ Day, he said the BNP “fully agrees in principle” with teachers’ “just demands.”

Tarique urged educators to help bring BNP to power so that it can modernise education and governance. “BNP wants your support and cooperation in the upcoming election to build a knowledge and merit-based state,” he added.

Teachers and employees at the rally pressed for a non-discriminatory education system, raising the retirement age to 65, bringing non-MPO institutions under the MPO scheme, and nationalising private education jobs.

Tarique acknowledged these concerns, saying BNP is aware of teachers’ long-standing demands. “No matter how many reforms we initiate, they will not succeed unless we modernise the education system and ensure the financial and social security of teachers,” he said.

He promised that if elected, a BNP government would form a high-level commission to examine measures such as job regularisation, nationalisation, and enhanced financial security for teachers.

Tarique also announced plans to establish an ‘Education Reform Commission’ to overhaul the curriculum and make it more practical and technical.

“It will be difficult for us to survive in global competition unless we urgently introduce a work-oriented education system based on ethics, social and religious values,” he added.

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, Standing Committee members Dr Abdul Moyeen Khan, Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury, and Professor AZM Zahid Hossain, along with former state minister for education ANM Ehsanul Haq Milon, National University Vice-Chancellor Professor ASM Amanullah, and former Dhaka University Pro-VC AFM Yusuf Haider, also spoke at the event.

Thousands of teachers and education employees from across the country attended the rally.