Protesting teachers and employees from MPO-listed private educational institutions have suspended their planned march towards the state guesthouse Jamuna and instead announced an indefinite hunger strike.
The movement demands remain unchanged: a 20 percent increase in basic salary as house rent (with a minimum of Tk 3,000), Tk 1,500 as medical allowance and 75 percent festival bonus for employees.
On Thursday evening, at a press briefing held at Central Shaheed Minar, Delwar Hossain Azizi, Member Secretary of Education Nationalization Demand Alliance, announced that teachers would no longer proceed with their previously declared "March to Jamuna." Instead, they would begin a continuous sit-in and launch a hunger strike from Friday, which, if ignored by the government, will turn into an indefinite hunger strike until death.
Alongside, all classes, examinations and academic activities in MPO-listed institutions across the country will remain suspended.
The announcement came following a meeting with Education Adviser Professor CR Abrar at Secretariat earlier in the day, which, according to the protesters, ended without any meaningful outcome.
The teachers accused the government of offering mere lip service and showing no real intent to resolve their issues.
Delwar Azizi claimed the dialogue was nothing but “an eyewash,” stressing that negotiations should involve mutual concessions, but the authorities were unwilling to consider any alternatives beyond their initial stance.
The movement originally began on October 5 when Ministry of Finance issued a circular granting just a Tk 500 increase in house rent allowance.
Teachers immediately rejected the amount as unacceptable and launched a countrywide protest.
The situation intensified on Monday after police baton-charged protesting teachers in front of Jatiya Press Club, pushing them to shift their movement to Central Shaheed Minar, where they have since continued their demonstrations.
On Wednesday, they blocked Shahbagh intersection for over two hours as part of their escalating protest.
Thursday’s march towards the Chief Adviser’s residence and the state guesthouse Jamuna was expected to be a key event in the movement.
However, following discussions and requests from political parties who feared the march might lead to unrest or infiltration by outside elements, the teachers decided to suspend the march temporarily in favour of a more symbolic but drastic form of protest; fasting unto death.
During Thursday evening announcement, Azizi became visibly emotional, declaring that if their demands remain unmet, they are prepared to die in protest.
He stated firmly, “Our bodies will not leave this place alive. Only our corpses will. But we will not move a hair’s breadth away from our demands.”
He criticized the government for prioritizing weapons purchases and corrupt projects while failing to ensure basic sustenance for educators.
He added that despite hundreds of crores being spent in various sectors, the government claims it cannot grant even Tk 3,000 in allowances to teachers.
“Let the state go bankrupt if it must. We have no objection,” he said.
The teachers proposed a compromise to Education Adviser during the meeting; requesting a 10 percent increase this year and another 10 percent in the next budget cycle, documented officially in a government gazette.
However, according to Azizi, the proposal was flatly rejected.
Calling the Adviser “like a father,” Azizi said they had pleaded for nothing more than the means to afford rice and lentils, but even that basic request fell on deaf ears.
He warned that if the state is unable to ensure food for over six lakh teachers and staff, then it should shut down the education system altogether and send everyone home.
He concluded that from Sunday, a full-scale work stoppage would continue in all MPO-listed institutions.
Teachers will no longer teach, take exams or participate in any school-related duties.
“If needed, we will drive rickshaws, farm the land or go hungry,” Azizi said. “But we will not retreat from our rightful demands.”
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