MPO-listed teachers and staff from private educational institutions in Bangladesh staged a symbolic “hunger march” on Sunday (October 19), carrying empty plates and utensils to protest against insufficient government allowances. The procession began at around 3:15 PM from the Central Shaheed Minar, with plans to march toward the Education Building.
Police Block the March
As the rally moved through Doel Chattar and reached the High Court intersection around 3:45 PM, police intervened and blocked their advance.
During the standoff, the protesting teachers and staff chanted slogans, including:
- “Either accept our demands or shoot us in the chest”
- “We reject the 5% circular”
- “No more farcical announcements”
- “No need for CR Abrar anymore”
Protest Leaders Speak Out
Before the march began, Delwar Hossain Azizi, Member Secretary of the MPO-listed Teachers and Employees Nationalisation Alliance, addressed the crowd.
He said:
“The government has issued a circular granting only a 5% house rent allowance. We do not accept this. While it shows our movement is having an effect, this is only the beginning. The protests will not stop until our full demands are met.”
Meeting with BNP Leader
The hunger march was initially scheduled to start at noon, but was delayed due to a meeting with BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir.
Delwar Hossain said:
“We presented our demands to him, and he expressed solidarity. He assured us that BNP would fully support our movement.”
Heightened Security Presence
As of the time of reporting, police and protesters remained in a standoff near the High Court. Authorities had deployed two water cannons and an armored vehicle to maintain control of the situation.
Background of the Protest
Earlier on Sunday, the Ministry of Finance sent a letter to the Ministry of Education approving a 5% house rent allowance (minimum Tk 2,000) for MPO-listed teachers and staff.
However, the protesting teachers have rejected the proposal. Their demands include:
- 20% house rent allowance
- Tk 1,500 medical allowance
- 75% festival allowance for staff
Ongoing Movement
The protest follows a previous confrontation on October 12 near the National Press Club, where clashes broke out between police and teachers, and sound grenades were reportedly used.
In response, teachers launched a nationwide class boycott and work stoppage from October 13 onward. They have vowed to continue their movement until all their demands are fulfilled.
