The Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB) on Monday called upon the government to immediately accept the three-point demand of teachers from MPO-listed non-government educational institutions who have been staging sit-in protest at the Central Shaheed Minar for nine consecutive days, reports UNB.
The call came at a solidarity rally organised by the CPB at Purana Paltan intersection in the capital.
After the rally, party leaders marched to the Central Shaheed Minar and expressed solidarity with the demonstrating teachers.
CPB also announced 23 October (Thursday) as "Teachers' Solidarity Day"
On that day, various programmes will be organised at district and upazila levels to express solidarity with the protesting teachers.
CPB President Sajjad Zahir Chandan presided over the rally which was also addressed by former party president Mohammad Shah Alam, teacher leader Jahangir Hossain, among others.
CPB President Chandan urged the government to take immediate steps to ensure a 20 per cent house rent allowance, a monthly medical allowance of Tk 1,500, and a 75 percent festival allowance for MPO-listed teachers.
He criticised the interim government, saying it had made decisions on many "unnecessary and jurisdictionally irrelevant" matters while ignoring the legitimate demands of teachers.
He also condemned the police action against peacefully protesting teachers, terming it "inhumane and unjustified."
Former CPB President Mohammad Shah Alam denounced the government's delay in resolving the issue, noting that educational activities across the country have been disrupted due to the teachers' ongoing strike.
Addressing the protesting teachers at the Shaheed Minar, CPB General Secretary Abdullah Kafi Ratan said while employees in most sectors receive 40 to 55 percent of their basic pay as house rent allowance, MPO-listed teachers receive only Tk 1,000. "With this amount, they can barely afford even a single-room accommodation, let alone support a family," he said.
Ratan added that the teachers demanded only a modest 20 per cent house rent allowance but were instead met with humiliation and police assault.
"The interim government's behaviour towards teachers fighting for their rights is disgraceful and unprecedented in a civilised society," he remarked.
He reaffirmed CPB's full support for the ongoing movement and pledged that if a left and democratic government is formed in the future, the nationalisation of the education system will be prioritised.
