MPO teachers forced to abandon ‘Hunger March’ to ministry for police blockade

Teachers occupied the gate, confronting police and BGB personnel before returning to Shaheed Minar for their afternoon sit-in around 4:45pm

MPO-registered teachers and staff campaigning for a 20 percent basic salary increase, higher house rent allowances, and the nationalisation of all private educational institutions have been prevented from carrying out a “Hunger March” by law-enforcing agencies.

On Sunday, as the march moved towards the education ministry, they were stopped at the High Court’s Mazaar gate. There, they faced police and Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) personnel in a tense standoff before returning to the Central Shaheed Minar for their sit-in programme around 4:45pm.

Earlier, at 3:30pm, teachers and staff took out a march towards the ministry from Shaheed Minar.

Under the banner of the MPO Teachers and Staff Nationalisation Alliance, the protesters have been demanding since last Sunday:

• A 20 percent house rent allowance based on basic salary;
• Increase of MPO teachers’ medical allowance from Tk 500 to Tk 1,500,
• Festival allowance for MPO staff from 50 percent to 75 percent of basic salary.

On Thursday, they added the demand for the nationalisation of all private educational institutions. While the government set house rent allowances at 5 percent of basic salary or a minimum of Tk 2,000, teachers remain adamant about the 20 percent demand and have vowed to continue their movement.