MPO Teachers Continue Hunger Strike, Demand Nationalisation

Teachers and employees of government-listed educational institutions under the Monthly Pay Order (MPO) scheme continued their hunger strike and street demonstrations in Dhaka on Saturday

Teachers and employees of government-listed educational institutions under the Monthly Pay Order (MPO) scheme continued their hunger strike and street demonstrations in Dhaka on Saturday, pressing for the nationalisation of all private educational institutions and improved allowances.

For the seventh consecutive day, thousands of protesters maintained their sit-in at the Central Shaheed Minar, demanding that the government address their longstanding grievances. In the afternoon, they brought out a black flag procession from the Shaheed Minar and marched towards the Kadam Fountain near the High Court, where they held a brief rally.

The demonstrators reiterated their core demands — including a 20 per cent housing allowance based on their basic salaries, an increase in medical allowance from Tk 500 to Tk 1,500, and a raise in festival bonuses from 50 per cent to 75 per cent of the basic salary. On Thursday, they added a new demand calling for the full nationalisation of private educational institutions.

Many teachers and employees have also been observing a “hunger strike unto death,” declaring that they will not return to classes until the government takes concrete action.

Speaking during the rally, protest leaders said their movement would continue peacefully but resolutely until their demands were accepted. They accused the authorities of ignoring the plight of thousands of teachers who serve under the MPO system but receive limited benefits compared to government employees.

Since October 13, private educational institutions across the country have been observing work abstention in solidarity with the demonstrators. The teachers have warned of intensifying their movement if their demands remain unmet.

Earlier, the government had announced a Tk 500 increase in house rent allowance on September 30, but the teachers rejected the measure, terming it inadequate. A subsequent proposal from the Education Ministry suggested raising the allowance to Tk 2,000–3,000, which has yet to be approved by the Finance Ministry.

Currently, MPO-affiliated teachers receive salaries as per the national pay scale, along with a monthly medical allowance of Tk 500 and a festival bonus amounting to half of their basic pay.

On Wednesday, the protesters briefly blocked the Shahbagh intersection for nearly three hours before returning to the Shaheed Minar, vowing to continue their movement until the government meets their demands.

Organisers said the protests would expand if the authorities fail to take immediate steps toward resolving the issue and ensuring fair treatment of MPO teachers and employees nationwide.