MPO-registered teachers and staff campaigning for a 20 percent basic salary increase, higher house rent allowances, and the nationalisation of all private educational institutions have been prevented from carrying out a “Hunger March” by law-enforcing agencies. On Sunday, as the march moved towards the education ministry, they were stopped at the High Court’s Mazaar gate. Earlier, at 3:30pm, teachers and staff took out a march towards the ministry from Shaheed Minar. Under the banner of the MPO Teachers and Staff Nationalisation Alliance, the protesters have been demanding since last Sunday:A 20 percent house rent allowance based on basic salary;Increase of MPO teachers’ medical allowance from Tk 500 to Tk 1,500;Festival allowance for MPO staff from 50 percent to 75 percent of basic salary;On Thursday, they added the demand for the nationalisation of all private educational institutions. While the government set house rent allowances at 5 percent of basic salary or a minimum of Tk 2,000, teachers remain adamant about the 20 percent demand and have vowed to continue their movement.
