More than 1,500 teachers enlisted under the MPO scheme in 600 non-government secondary schools of Barisal division are being deprived of salary and allowances ahead of Eid.
They allege that this situation is a result of harassment by Anwar Hossain, the deputy director of the Barisal region under the Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education, who has failed to forward their documents to the higher authorities.
The agitated teachers, holding a press conference at the Shahid Janoni Sahan Ara Auditorium of Barisal Reporters Unity on Saturday afternoon, announced that if their salaries are not regularized soon, they will initiate a tougher program, including a hunger strike.
Abdul Jabbar Khan, convener of the divisional resistance committee of MPO-deprived private teachers/employees, read out their written statement at the press conference.
He mentioned that Deputy Director Anwar Hossain has been holding onto the teachers' files day after day and even cancels them for trivial reasons. As a result, despite diligently performing their duties, these high school teachers are deprived of receiving MPO benefits due to long-standing irregularities.
Samina Afroz, a teacher at Mofazzel Hossain Secondary School in Barisal, stated that seven teaching staff members of her school have been denied MPO enlistment in the last two years, resulting in no salary or allowances for them.
Liaqat Ali Jamaddar, another affected teacher, explained that since June 1, 2023, he has been working as the head teacher of Morichbunia Secondary School in Kathalia Upazila of Jhalokati District but has not received any government salary or allowance for the last nine months due to issues with his MPO file.
Similarly, Humayun Kabir, a teacher transferred from Haji MA Rashid Junior Secondary School of Nalchiti to Panchgram Secondary School of Nalchiti on July 7, 2022, has not received salary or allowances for almost two years due to delays in transferring his MPO file.
The agitated teachers complained that 1500 teachers from 600 schools across different upazilas of Barisal division, including Nalchiti, Kathalia upazilas of Jhalakathi, Sadar upazila of Barisal, and Nesharabad of Pirojpur district, have been deprived of their salary and allowances for the last six months to three years.
They alleged that whenever they seek promotion or transfer, their MPO files get stuck on the desk of Deputy Director Anwar Hossain, leading to delays in salary allowances.
"Due to his harassment and irregularities, we are deprived of our salary and allowance - we can't even support our families," they said.
Abul Kalam Azad, secretary of the Barishal Regional Teachers Association, mentioned that MPO-enlisted private teachers require 38 types of documents for changes in institutions or scales, making the process complicated. Many applications are rejected on flimsy grounds, leaving teachers helpless and their salaries withheld.
Mizanur Rahman, a teacher at Darul Huda Adarsho Junior Secondary School in Bhandaria Upazila, expressed his frustration, stating that he has not received salary or allowances since being transferred there on October 12, 2020.
The agitated teachers declared that if they do not receive their salary and allowances, they will go on a hunger strike and besiege the Education Office after Eid.
Despite repeated attempts, Deputy Director Anwar Hossain of the Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education did not respond to calls.
Prof Moazzem Hossain, Barishal regional director of the Directorate of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education, expressed concern over the situation, stating that he was unaware of the extent of the issue with Deputy Director Anwar Hossain.
He assured that he would forward the matter to higher authorities as it is not desirable for teachers to have their salary allowances stopped when they used to receive them regularly.