EDUCATION
Non-Government Teachers Suspend ‘Long March’, Announce Hunger Strike
Teachers and employees of MPO-listed non-government educational institutions in Bangladesh have suspended their planned “Long March to the Jamuna” and announced a continuous hunger strike to press home their three-point demand, including a 20% increase in house rent allowance.
The announcement was made on Thursday afternoon by Principal Delwar Hossain Azizi, member secretary of the Education Nationalisation Demand Alliance. “Tomorrow we will begin fasting. If our demands remain unmet, we will continue until death. Our bodies will go—alive or dead,” he declared at the gathering.
Azizi also announced that starting Sunday, all classes in private educational institutions would be suspended.
The teachers say the government’s proposed increase in housing and medical allowances is “insufficient and unrealistic.” They are demanding a 20% house rent allowance based on basic salary, a higher medical allowance, and the implementation of a universal transfer policy.
Earlier on Sunday, police clashed with protesting teachers near the National Press Club while attempting to remove them, during which sound grenades were reportedly used. Later, the teachers relocated to the Central Shaheed Minar and announced a continuous sit-in.
Many of the protesting teachers have been staying at the Shaheed Minar under the open sky for two consecutive nights. They vowed to continue their strike and class boycott until a formal government gazette is issued addressing their demands.
The Ministry of Finance has approved a 5% house rent allowance for teachers and staff of non-government MPO-listed institutions, setting a minimum payment of Tk 2,000. The decision was announced through a ministry circular issued on Friday (October 17).
According to the circular, the move was made considering the government’s current budget limitations. The new allowance will take effect from November 2025.
However, protesting teachers have rejected the decision, calling it “unacceptable and inadequate.” They announced that their ongoing hunger strike and other protest programs will continue until their demands are met.
Previously, MPO teachers received a flat house rent allowance of Tk 1,000, which was increased to Tk 1,500 on September 30. Under the new formula, most teachers will still receive Tk 2,000 — the minimum threshold — while only principals and vice-principals will receive higher amounts.
Teachers demanding nationalization of MPO-listed institutions remain on hunger strike at Dhaka’s Central Shaheed Minar.
Teachers from MPO-listed educational institutions have begun a hunger strike at Dhaka’s Central Shaheed Minar, demanding the nationalization of their institutions. The protest started after Friday prayers on 17 October, with over a hundred teachers taking part despite rain.
The demonstrators accused the government of insincerity, claiming it offered to partially fulfill only one of their three key demands. “The government is mocking us,” said Principal Delwar Hossain Azizi, member secretary of the Nationalization Demand Alliance. “They agreed to just a quarter of one demand while ignoring the others. Teachers have rejected this proposal.”
Earlier in the morning, teachers gathered at Dhaka University’s TSC before moving to the Shaheed Minar, where they began their hunger strike.
As part of the ongoing movement, the teachers announced plans for a long march toward the Jamuna River on Sunday (19 October). They also urged educators from across the country to join the protest.
Messages circulating on social media have called on teachers nationwide to travel to Dhaka to participate in the sit-in and hunger strike.
The Islami Chhatra Shibir-backed Combined Student Alliance has swept the Rajshahi University Central Students’ Union (RAKSU) elections, winning 20 out of 23 posts.
Chief Election Commissioner Professor F. Nazrul Islam announced the results at 8:45 a.m. on Friday at the Kazi Nazrul Islam Auditorium on the university campus.
Mostakur Rahman Zahid of the Combined Student Alliance was elected vice president (VP), while Salahuddin Ammar of the Anti-Dominance Unity Panel won the position of general secretary (GS).
Speaking to reporters after the results were announced, Zahid pledged to “work with honesty and dedication to fulfill the students’ verdict.” He added, “Many competent candidates contested in this election. We want to build a better campus together with both winners and those who didn’t win.”
General Secretary-elect Salahuddin Ammar said, “My only mandate is the students, and I will never step beyond that.”
Ammar, who led last year’s anti-discrimination student movement, appeared alongside his mother after the announcement.
“When my term ends in a year,” he said, “I want to be able to proudly say that I have served with dignity. May I never fail in this responsibility.”
Ammar’s mother told reporters, “I raised him with ideals and moral values. I hope he remains loyal to the students’ mandate.”
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