EDUCATION
Education Ministry Proposes House Rent Hike for MPO Teachers, Protests Erupt at Shahbagh
Bangladesh’s Education Ministry has sent a proposal to the Finance Ministry recommending a 5 to 20 percent increase in house rent allowances for teachers and staff of MPO-listed private educational institutions, depending on the government’s financial capacity. The proposal was confirmed by ministry sources on Wednesday (October 15).
Meanwhile, hundreds of MPO-registered teachers have blocked Dhaka’s Shahbagh intersection, demanding a 20 percent house rent hike along with two other benefits — a medical allowance of Tk 1,500 and a 75 percent festival bonus for staff.
Teachers announced the blockade from an ongoing rally at the Central Shaheed Minar before taking to the streets around 2 p.m., halting traffic in the busy intersection. They declared that no teacher would attend classes until their demands were met.
The protests began on Monday after the government’s earlier decision to raise the house rent allowance by only Tk 500 — a move teachers rejected as insufficient. As a result, teaching activities in MPO-affiliated schools and colleges across the country have come to a standstill.
Following the rejection, on October 6, the Education Ministry submitted a revised proposal to the Finance Division recommending that the allowance be increased to at least Tk 2,000–3,000.
Currently, MPO-listed teachers receive a monthly medical allowance of Tk 500, a house rent allowance of Tk 1,000 (including the recent Tk 500 increase), and festival bonuses at 50 percent of their basic salary.
Leaders and activists of Bangladesh Chhatra Dal staged a protest at Dhaka Medical College Hospital on Friday, condemning the shooting of Sharif Osman Hadi, an independent candidate for Dhaka-8 and spokesperson of Inqilab Manch. The demonstration began around 5:30 pm when protesters marched from the Central Shaheed Minar to the hospital, where Hadi is currently receiving treatment.
Chhatra Dal’s central president, Rakibul Islam Rakib, and secretary, Nasir Uddin Nasir, were present at the protest. The demonstrators chanted slogans demanding immediate arrest of those responsible, including “Why was Hadi shot? Interim answer now” and “Direct action.”
Earlier in the afternoon, armed assailants shot Hadi in the Bijoynagar culvert area. He was rescued and taken to Dhaka Medical College Hospital.
Following the attack, additional police and security personnel were deployed around the hospital. Authorities are working to identify the attackers and determine the motive behind the shooting
In Noakhali’s Hatiya upazila, the annual exams of more than four hundred students at Charkailash Government Primary School are being conducted by the headteacher alone, due to an ongoing work stoppage by assistant teachers. On 2 December, the assistant teachers were seen staying inside the office room while headteacher Monowara Hoque managed the examinations single-handedly.
Handling five classes at once has resulted in significant disorder during the exams. With no monitoring in several rooms, students were observed talking openly, copying from notebooks, and moving about freely. Concerned parents expressed frustration, saying that exam standards are being severely compromised and students’ academic futures are at risk.
Assistant teachers said they are observing the nationwide work stoppage to press for three demands, including 11th grade status and promotion. They warned of tougher programmes if their demands remain unmet.
Headteacher Monowara Hoque stated that while she respects the teachers’ movement, she is conducting the exams based on instructions from the DPEO, ADPEO and ATEO. She added that she is receiving support from former students to continue the examinations so that children do not fall behind.
Upazila Primary Education Officer Abdul Jabbar said that exams are being conducted in 79 out of Hatiya’s 227 schools. He added that further decisions regarding the remaining schools will be taken by the authorities.
The government has warned that secondary school teachers who suspended students’ examinations are in violation of civil service rules and will face disciplinary action. The caution came from Education Adviser Professor Dr C R Abrar during an exclusive interview with Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS) on Monday.
Dr Abrar said the teachers’ decision to halt examinations amounts to a breach of the government’s code of conduct, adding that the authorities have taken a firm stance on the matter. He urged teachers to resume examinations immediately to ease pressure on students and their parents.
The adviser described the demand for upgrading teachers to the ninth grade as unjustified, saying they had joined service knowing they would remain in the tenth grade. He noted that the ninth grade is typically reserved for BCS administration cadre officers and involves inter-ministerial coordination, meaning teachers cannot be placed there unilaterally.
Dr Abrar further alleged that the teachers were “using students as instruments” by suspending examinations during their movement, which he termed unethical. He warned that failure to conduct exams from the next day would result in disciplinary action under civil service regulations.