BNP Joint Secretary General Shahid Uddin Chowdhury Anni has expressed solidarity and support for the ongoing movement of MPO-listed private school teachers and staff. On Monday (October 20), around 12:15 PM, he visited the teachers protesting at the Central Shaheed Minar and pledged to stand by their cause.
Earlier, Delwar Hossain Azizi, Secretary of the MPO Nationalization Expectation Alliance, informed that BNP leaders, including Anni, would join the rally at Shaheed Minar to show their support.
The teachers and staff are protesting demanding increases in house rent allowance, medical allowance, and festival allowance. They have vowed not to return to classrooms until their three-point demands are met.
Though a 500 Taka increase in house rent allowance was announced on September 30, teachers rejected it and launched the movement. Subsequently, the Education Ministry proposed raising the allowance by 2,000 to 3,000 Taka, which was sent to the Finance Ministry for approval.
On Sunday (October 19), when the teachers tried to hold a “Hungry March” in the capital, police and BGB blocked their path near the High Court’s Mazar Gate, forcing them to return to Shaheed Minar and resume their sit-in.
At the evening rally, Azizi announced that the teachers would begin a hunger strike from 10 AM on Monday. He also stated that they have rejected the call from Education Advisor Professor Chowdhury Rafiqul Abrar and are now appealing for intervention from the Chief Advisor.
The main demands include a 20% increase in house rent allowance based on basic salary, medical allowance raised from 500 to 1,500 Taka, and festival allowance increased from 50% to 75%. Teachers and staff have been protesting since October 12 under the banner of the MPO Nationalization Expectation Alliance.
