Thousands of teachers and employees of non-MPO educational institutions continued their demonstration for the third day on Friday as their demands have not been met.
Demanding enlistment of their institutions under the Monthly Pay Order (MPO) scheme, around 15,000-20,000 employees from 5,242 institutions gathered on the street in front of the National Press Club in Dhaka on Wednesday morning and started their demonstration.
Non-MPO Education Institutions Teachers and Employees Federation stated that they have been organizing programs to attract the government's attention demanding the inclusion into the MPO system for a long time.
Although the government gave them repeated assurances, their demands have yet to be fulfilled.
Principal Golam Mahmudunnabi Dollar, president of the federation, said: “We have long been applying to enroll teachers of more than five thousand educational institutions across the country into the MPO system.
“Last year, after a month-long movement, we went back to our respective organizations after receiving assurances from the government.
“But in the last eight months, those assurances did not bring any results. We contacted high ranking officials of the government on the matter. They expressed their inability to take any action.
“Now our only hope is to meet Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. She will decide what we should do,” he added.
The president also said: “Our protest is logical; the demand of the inclusion into the MPO system is our right.”
Thousands of teachers and employees of non-MPO educational institutions take part in a demonstration in front of National Press Club in Dhaka on Friday Mahmud Hossain Opu/Dhaka Tribune
“There are 28,000 educational institutions across the country that have been enlisted under the system. Despite having the same recognition, same academic process and same duties-- we are not enrolled into the system,” he added.
“The income of non-MPO institutions is very poor and we-- the teachers and employees—do not get enough salary. If the government includes us into the system, we will have a better life with a quality salary,” he said.
The president mentioned on Thursday morning they wanted to peacefully march towards the Prime Minister's Office (PMO). However, the law enforcement officers stopped them.
“Until we meet the prime minister, we will not leave the streets,” he added.
Binoy Bhushan Roy, general secretary of the organization, said: “In our last year’s demonstration, private secretary to the prime minister told us that the prime minister has accepted the demand. He asked us to break the hunger strike and return home.
“After 15 days of hunger strike on July 11, 2018, professor Anisuzzaman, advisor to former caretaker government, educationists Rasheda K Chowdhury, Ziauddin Tarek Ali among others, came and asked us to return home. They also assured us that they would discuss the matter with the prime minister.”
Teachers falling ill on the streets
Meanwhile some teachers have become ill on the spot. Shailen Kumar Majumder, teacher of Etim Manjil Mahila Dakhil Madrasha in Barguna has been admitted to the National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases Hospital due to an undisclosed illness.
President Mahmudunnabi said last night his [Shailen] condition deteriorated and he was shifted to the intensive care unit.
Shobha Rani, teacher of Sonartari Nimno Maddhomik School in Khulna was taken to Dhaka Medical College Hospital due to illness as well.
The leader of the demonstration said many teachers are falling sick regularly due to the dust and the heat.
Earlier on December 26, 2017, the non-MPO teachers and employees started a continuous movement in front of the National Press Club demanding inclusion into the MPO system. The government suspended the movement on January 5, 2018 after assuring fulfillment of their demand.