Teachers demanding MPO facility end hunger strike on PM promise

The teachers demonstrating for inclusion of their private institutions in the government’s Monthly Pay Order or MPO scheme have called off a hunger strike after over a month following Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s assurance of meeting their demand.

They ended the 32-day hunger strike when four distinguished citizens, including National Professor Anisuzzaman, met them in front of the National Press Club in Dhaka on Wednesday afternoon.

Prof Anisuzzaman said he saw hopes in Hasina’s comments in parliament to resolve the non-MPO teachers’ problems.

“I hope the education ministry will find a way out of the situation.

“It is my sincere request to you as a colleague that you will break the fast, considering the damage of the students,” he added.

The three others with him were former adviser to the caretaker government Rasheda K Chowdhury, and Liberation War Museum Trustees Ziauddin Tariq Ali and Dr Sarwar Ali.  

Principal Golam Mahmudunnabi, President of the Federation of Non-MPO Teachers and Employees, expressed gratitude to the four distinguished citizens for their concerns over the striking teachers.

“We hope the prime minister will fulfil the hope she has given us,” he said.

Speaking in parliament on July 4, Hasina assured the striking teachers of taking quick steps to implement the scheme as per the recently issued guidelines.

Two committees had been formed to take online applications, manage these and select the institutions following the guidelines, she said.

Her assurance came a day after Finance Minister AMA Muhith asked the MPs to consider whether to continue with the MPO scheme, terming it a ‘bad pbdrogramme’ and alleging corruption in it.

Under the MPO scheme, the government pays the basic salaries of teachers and employees of listed educational institutions following recommendations by MPs.