Teachers and Staff Stage Sit-in at Central Shaheed Minar for Salary Increase and House Rent Allowance

Staff Reporter | PNN:

MPO-listed teachers and staff from private educational institutions are continuing their sit-in at the Central Shaheed Minar in Dhaka for the second consecutive day, demanding a 20% increase in their basic salaries along with house rent and three other key demands. The sit-in began around 10 a.m. on Monday, with hundreds of teachers and staff chanting slogans such as, "Twenty percent house rent, give it now," "Immediate decree, give it now," and "1500 taka medical allowance, give it now."

Yusuf Bhuiyan, a teacher from Sonaimur in Noakhali, said, "We have not come here for political purposes; we are here for our rightful demands." He mentioned that at least 90% of educational institutions in his area are observing a strike.

Delwar Hossain Azizi, the Secretary-General of the ‘MPO-listed Education Nationalization Expectations Coalition,’ stated that no formal talks have taken place with the government yet, but various sources suggest that the ministry is working to fulfill the demands.

The teachers and staff mentioned that due to the ongoing strike, they are willing to take classes on Fridays and Saturdays if needed to compensate for the loss to students. However, they will not return to work until their demands are met.

Yesterday, Sunday morning, teachers and staff began a sit-in in front of the National Press Club. The road was blocked for nearly six hours, until police dispersed the protesters using batons, sound grenades, and water cannons.

Demands:

• 20% increase in basic salary and house rent allowance
  
  

• 1500 taka medical allowance for teachers and staff
  
  

• 75% festival allowance for staff
  
  

The teachers and staff have stated that the sit-in will continue until their three demands are fulfilled.