Hundreds of teachers and employees from MPO-listed private educational institutions continued their sit-in protest for the second consecutive day on Monday at the Central Shaheed Minar in the capital, demanding a 20 per cent house rent allowance based on their basic salary, along with two other key demands.
Throughout the demonstration, protesters chanted slogans such as "Give 20 per cent house rent allowance now," "Issue the gazette immediately," and "Give Tk 1,500 medical allowance now."
Yusuf Bhuiyan, a teacher from a madrasa in Sonaimuri, Noakhali, said, "Those of us who are here have no political motive. We are sitting here only to demand our rightful dues."
Leaders of the protest claimed that the education system in MPO-listed institutions has largely come to a standstill. "We have received information that 90 per cent of educational institutions are observing the strike. Some institutions are not participating," said Principal Delwar Hossain Azizi, the alliance's member secretary.
Azizi added that the sit-in would continue until the government issues a notification fulfilling their three-point demand: a 20 per cent house rent allowance, a Tk 1,500 medical allowance, and an increase in festival allowance for employees to 75 per cent of their basic salary.
The protesting teachers and staff emphasised that while their absence may disrupt students' education, they are prepared to compensate by holding extra classes on Fridays and Saturdays. However, they remain firm in their decision not to return to their institutions until the demands are met.
The protest began under the banner of the MPO-Listed Education Nationalisation Demand Alliance with an indefinite blockade in front of the National Press Club at 8:00 am on Sunday. The demonstration halted vehicular movement on the road for nearly six hours.
At around 2:30 pm on Sunday, police intervened using baton charges, sound grenades, and water cannons to disperse the demonstrators. By 3:00 pm, the protesters regrouped at the Central Shaheed Minar, where they held an overnight sit-in and resumed the protest on Monday morning.
The alliance reiterated that their remaining two demands-raising the medical allowance to Tk 1,500 and increasing the festival allowance to 75 per cent of basic salary-are as crucial as the house rent allowance and must be addressed without delay.
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