Government primary school teachers have announced that they will continue their sit-in at Dhaka’s Central Shaheed Minar and nationwide work abstention until a final decision comes from the Finance Ministry regarding their demands.
On Sunday night, the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education held a meeting with leaders of the demonstrating teachers to discuss their demands.
Although the ministry assured them of cooperation, the teachers said they would not withdraw their programs until the Finance Ministry makes a final decision.
The meeting, chaired by Abu Taher Md Masud Rana of the ministry, was attended by senior officials and teacher leaders, including Md Abul Kasem, Khairun Nahar Lipi, Md Shamsuddin Masud, and Mahbubur Rahman.
Following the discussion, Md Shamsuddin Masud, president of the Bangladesh Primary School Assistant Teachers’ Association, told reporters at Shaheed Minar that a final decision will be made after a meeting with the Finance Ministry at 5pm on Monday, and that their sit-in will continue in the meantime.
Later that night, teacher leaders confirmed that the work abstention would also continue alongside the sit-in.
The teachers have been demonstrating since Saturday, demanding upgrading their pay scale to the 10th grade, removal of complications in higher-grade benefits, and 100% departmental promotion from assistant teacher to head teacher.
