Police have blocked the procession of non-Monthly Pay Order (MPO) teachers and employees who were marching towards the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO).
Obstructed by the police, teachers sat on the street and continued their demonstration for MPO enlistment.
Under the banner of Non-MPO Educational Institutions Teachers and the Employees' Federation, around 7,000 teachers and employees of non-MPO educational institutions started to march toward the PMO from the National Press Club around 11am on Thursday.
However, police obstructed their procession near the Kadam Fountain intersection.
Also Read- Non-MPO teachers, employees begin hunger strike
When asked about the march, Federation President Principle Golam Mahmudunnabi Dollar said: “We have been asking the government to enroll non-MPO teachers and employees under the MPO scheme for long time now. However, more than one-and-a-half years have been passed without any steps after Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina gave assurances on the matter.”
“We have no intention of violence or to cause any sort of trouble. We are just marching towards the prime minister’s office to meet with her and press home our demands,” he added.
Also Read- Non-MPO teachers threaten to shut down all educational institutions
Asked why the teachers’ march was obstructed, Shahbagh police station Inspector (patrol) Bashar said: “Any procession or march toward the prime minister's office cannot be allowed under any circumstances. That is why we have been forced to halt the demonstration.”
“However, if the Teachers Federation wants to submit a petition to the Prime Minister, we can arrange that. Currently the teachers are sitting blocking the street and police are observing the situation,” he said.
Also Read- 'We will not go home without MPO'
Huge traffic congestion has been created after vehicular movements from Paltan to Kadam Fountain were halted due to the teachers’ sit-in program. Police have urged the agitators to free up at least one lane so that stranded vehicles can be removed from the street, the inspector said.
