MPO teachers threaten march to Secretariat if demands not met by afternoon

Teachers and employees of MPO-listed private educational institutions have threatened that they will march towards the Secretariat from the Central Shaheed Minar if their demands are not met by Monday afternoon.

The protesters said their ongoing sit-in and work abstention programmes would continue until the demands are fulfilled.

The protesters have been staging demonstrations to press home a three-point demand, including 20 per cent of the basic salary (or a minimum of Tk 3,000) as house rent allowance.

They have been staging a sit-in at the Central Shaheed Minar while work abstention continues in all MPO-listed institutions.

Their other demands are a Tk 1,500 medical allowance for both teachers and employees and increasing the festival allowance for employees to 75 percent.

Abdul Barek, a teacher of Darus Sunnat Kamil Madrasa in Kaukhali, Pirojpur, said, “If the notification is not issued by 4PM today, we will march towards the Secretariat.”

He alleged that police attacked the protesting teachers on Sunday.

“We were beaten indiscriminately. Our teachers were humiliated and injured. Tear gas was fired and one of our colleagues was dragged away. We strongly condemn this and demand justice,” he said.

The teachers and employees launched their continuous sit-in on Sunday in front of the Jaitya Press Club, with a large number of participants from across the country. Police dispersed then using batons, sound grenades and water cannons. Following the police action, the demonstrators moved to the Central Shaheed Minar where they have continued their protest since.