October 16, 2025
DHAKA – Teachers from non-government MPO-listed institutions continued their indefinite work abstention since yesterday on several demands, including an increase in the house rent allowance to 20 percent of their basic salary.
They are also continuing their demonstration at the Central Shaheed Minar for the third consecutive day.
A section of the teachers stayed at the Shaheed Minar overnight as part of their sit-in programme while many others joined them in the morning.
The teachers from schools, colleges, and madrasas across the country joined the protest at the Shaheed Minar on Sunday after police dispersed the demonstrators in front of the Jatiya Press Club using water cannons, baton charges, and sound grenades.
While addressing the protesters at the Shaheed Minar today, Delwar Hossain Azizi, member secretary of the Alliance for Nationalisation of MPO Institutions, said “Their protest as well as the work abstention will continue simultaneously and their movement will spread across the country if the authorities dilly-dally to meet their demands.”
The teacher leader said they will not call off their movement until all their demands are met.
Their other demands include increasing the medical allowance to Tk 1,500 for both teachers and employees, and raising the festival allowance for non-teaching staff to 75 percent of their basic pay.
“I want to make it clear — [house rent] 20 percent means 20 percent, not 19 percent; [medical allowance] Tk 1500 means Tk 1500, not Tk 1499; and [festival allowance] 75 percent means 75 percent, not 74 percent,” Azizi said.
Earlier on August 13, teachers had issued an ultimatum to meet their demands by September 14 but postponed their strike after assurances from the ministry.
Recently, the finance ministry approved a proposal to raise the house rent allowance for teachers and staff by Tk 500, prompting the teachers to return to the streets.