Striking teachers want to meet Prime Minister

The teachers and employees under the non-monthly pay order (MPO) scheme have vowed to continue their protest until the prime minister's assurances to enlist them.

Their demonstration continued for third consecutive day on Friday under the banner 'Non-MPO Educational Institutions Teachers and the Employees Federation' outside the National Press Club.

The aggrieved teachers and staff members of more than 5,000 none-MPO academic institutions have been staging a sit-in since March 20.

They alleged that their demand got a raw deal despite government assurances on several occasions.

This time, the deprived educators want a written assurance from the government as well as an announcement from the premier herself.

Principal Golam Mahmudunnabi Dollar, president of the federation, said they have long been demanding enlistment.

"Even we got assurances from the government's side, but no visible development was still to be made," he told the media.

Mr Dollar said they now demand a written assurance and announcement from Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

They want to meet the PM over the issue before ending their demonstration and returning to work with a result.

Hundreds of teachers and employees took to the streets in front of the Jatiya Press Club blocking traffic since then.

In the meantime, some demonstrators have fallen sick.

Earlier, police intercepted the strikers as they tried to march towards the Prime Minister's Office with a memorandum to realise their demand.

Later, they sat on the street in protest and demanded their enlistment in the state's pay order. In July, 2018, the teachers called off their demo on assurances from the government that it would consider their demand.

However, no signs of enlistment have led the non-MPO teachers and employees to take to the streets again.

[email protected]