Gono Odhikar Parishad expresses solidarity with movement, MPO teachers return to Shaheed Minar

MPO-listed teachers and employees draw their demonstration near the High Court to a close and return to Shaheed Minar around 1pm

The Gono Odhikar Parishad (GOP) has expressed solidarity with the protesting teachers and employees under the government's monthly pay order (MPO) scheme, who are demanding the nationalisation of all private educational institutions and a 20 percent housing allowance on their basic salaries.

The party’s General Secretary Rashed Khan made the announcement while attending the teachers' protest rally on the road adjacent to the Kadam Fountain outside the High Court on Saturday.

Later, the teachers and employees drew their demonstration to a close and returned to Shaheed Minar around 1pm.

Earlier, they had begun their protest by occupying the street near the Kadam Fountain with a black flag procession around 12:15pm.

Meanwhile, a section of the teachers at the Shaheed Minar continued their “hunger strike unto death".

Joining the teachers’ rally, Rashed said: "Not teachers; it is the bureaucrats who are corrupt. The bureaucrats have all the facilities, including cars and houses. But the teachers are protesting on the streets in intense heat just to achieve their rights. This is a matter of shame for us."

Outlining the GOP’s stance, he said: "We believe that teachers should receive a higher salary than bureaucrats."

He also affirmed that the party will stand by the teachers until their demands are met.

“We are ready to join you in besieging the Secretariat. If it becomes necessary to surround Jamuna to achieve your demands, Gono Odhikar Parishad will extend full support," he added.

The teachers and employees have been demonstrating since last week, demanding that housing allowance be set at 20 percent of their basic salary, medical allowance be increased from Tk 500 to Tk 1,500, and festival bonuses be raised from 50 percent to 75 percent of the basic salary.

On Thursday, they added a new demand: the nationalisation of all private educational institutions.

Meanwhile, the MPO-listed teachers and employees have again announced a “March to Jamuna” programme for Sunday, which will be a procession towards the chief advisor's official residence, the State Guest House Jamuna, accompanied by family members.

Since Oct 13, continuous strikes across private educational institutions have been observed in protest of "police actions". Protesters have also threatened to escalate their demonstrations.

The government had increased the house rent allowance by Tk 500 on Sept 30, but the announcement on Oct 5 was rejected by teachers.

Subsequent proposals sent to the finance ministry on Oct 6 suggested raising the house rent allowance to Tk 2,000–3,000.

At the moment, MPO-affiliated teachers receive salaries according to the national pay scale, a Tk 500 monthly medical allowance, and a festival allowance of 50 percent of base salary.