Teachers reject 5pc housing allowance; demanding for 20pc
Staff Reporter :
Teachers from MPO-listed non-government educational institutions across the country have rejected the government’s circular approving a five percent house rent allowance with a minimum of Tk 2,000 per month, calling it “insufficient and unacceptable.”
They are continuing their movement demanding a 20 per cent house rent allowance along with Tk 1500 for medical and 75 per cent festival allowances.
According to official estimates, the newly approved allowance will increase house rent for 89 per cent of teachers and staff by more than 8.7 percent, for 75 percent by more than nine per cent, and for 56 per cent by more than 12 per cent.
Even so, protesting teachers argue that this increase does not reflect current living costs amid rising inflation and economic pressure.
The circular signed by Deputy Secretary Maryam Mitu was issued by the Finance Division under the Ministry of Finance. It states that the decision was taken considering the government’s current budget limitations.
The circular also notes that the decision will be effective from November 1, and the allowance will be adjusted with future national pay scales.
It further instructs that MPO policies must be strictly followed during recruitment, arrear claims will not be accepted under any circumstances, and any violation of financial rules will be the responsibility of the approving authority.
Copies of the order have been sent to the Secondary and Higher Education Division, the Technical and Madrasa Education Division, the Budget-1 Branch of the Finance Division, and other concerned offices.
Meanwhile, thousands of MPO-listed teachers have gathered at the Central Shaheed Minar in Dhaka to continue their nationwide protest for the eighth consecutive day.
A “hunger march” was brought out at 3pm in which thousands of teachers and staffs joined to press home their demands.
However, the procession was intercepted by the law enforcers when it reached to the High Court intersection via Doyel Chattor.
At that time the marchers chanted various slogans including ‘Accept our demand or shot at my heart,’ ‘Down with five per cent circular,’ ‘ridiculous circular, unacceptable’.
Before commencing the procession, Mohammad Shah Alam, Member Secretary of the Bangladesh Non-Government Teachers’ Forum, said the government’s decision was unacceptable.
“We reject the circular. We want 20 percent house rent allowance. Even one percent less will not be accepted,” he said.
He also informed that a delegation of teachers is currently in talks with the Ministry of Education, and further programmes will be announced based on the outcome of that meeting.
Delwar Hossain Azizi, Member Secretary of the Nationalization-Seeking Teachers’ Alliance, said in a statement that the five per cent house rent allowance is only “an initial victory” for the movement but not the end.
He said their protest would continue until the government approves a 20 percent house rent allowance, Tk 1,500 medical allowance, and 75 percent festival bonus.
Thousands of teachers from different districts are joining the protest in Dhaka, many seen carrying empty plates and bowls as a symbol of their financial struggle.
Teachers who could not travel to Dhaka have been urged to hold simultaneous demonstrations at district and upazila headquarters.
Taslima, a senior teacher from Thalla High School in Bancharampur, said they want to return to classrooms but cannot survive with their current salaries.
“We haven’t demanded luxury. We just want enough to live like human beings. We will not return home until our demand is met,” she said.
Another protesting teacher, Asad Mia, blamed what he called “fascist influence” inside the Ministry of Education for delaying a solution.
He said they expected Nobel laureate Dr. Muhammad Yunus, now Chief Adviser, to support the teachers but were disappointed.
“We are not asking for favours. We are only asking for our rightful share,” he said.
The nationwide movement remains intense as teachers continue to occupy the Shaheed Minar area, vowing to continue protests until their demands are accepted.
Earlier, leaders of the Jatiyakaran Andolon Oikya Jote (Nationalisation Movement Unity Alliance) met BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir who assured that BNP would give priority to the nationalisation of MPO-listed educational institutions if come to power through election.
After the meeting at the BNP Chairperson’s office in Gulshan, member secretary of the alliance Delwar Hossain Azizi, said that Mirza Fakhrul listened to their demands cordially.
“Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said if BNP comes to power, the long-standing demand of teachers to nationalise non-government educational institutions will be implemented,” he said.