Inconclusive meetings force madrasa teachers to continue hunger strike

Several hundred Ebtedayee madrasa teachers on a hunger strike movement that rolled into straight sixth day on Sunday vowed to continue strike as two meetings with the government ended inconclusive, reports UNB.

They have been on a sit-in for nine days and then went on a hunger strike for the last six days in front of the National Press Club demanding nationalisation of the primary-equivalent Islamic schools across the country.

Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid and newly appointed State Minister for Technical and Madrasah Education Kazi Keramot Ali had two meetings in quick succession with the striking teachers on Monday at the Secretariat but to no avail.

Secretary General of Bangladesh Independent Ebtedayee Madrasa Teachers' Association, Mokhlesur Rahman, told the news agency that the ministers just assured of bringing the issue before the prime minister but fell short of giving any assurance of meeting their demands outright.

He also said they will continue the hunger strike until the government fulfills their demands.

Meanwhile, four more teachers fell sick on Sunday, raising the number to 165.