Primary teachers threaten hunger strike from June 23
Staff Reporter :
The Bangladesh Primary Teachers’ Association has announced that it will launch a hunger strike unto death beginning on June 23 if their long-standing three-point demands are not met.
The announcement was made by the association’s President Aminul Islam Chowdhury during a divisional rally held at the Jashore District Council Auditorium on Saturday.
Addressing hundreds of teachers gathered from across the Khulna division, Aminul Islam strongly criticised the bureaucratic complications left behind by the previous government.
He specifically pointed to a circular issued by the Ministry of Finance on August 12, 2020, which relates to time-scale promotions for nationalised primary teachers, calling it “completely illegal and misleading.”
He demanded the immediate withdrawal of the circular and called for seniority to be determined based on 50% of effective service duration. Another key demand is the publication of the long-delayed gazette for deprived head teachers.
“We have called for a mass rally on June 22 at the Central Shaheed Minar in Dhaka, where thousands of teachers from across the country will join,” said Aminul Islam.
“If our rightful demands are ignored, we will begin a hunger strike unto death from the very next day, June 23.”
He added that without ensuring respect and justice for teachers, it would be impossible to improve the quality of primary education in Bangladesh.
“Be prepared when you come to Dhaka. This is not just a demonstration-this is a fight for our dignity.”
The rally was presided over by Nazrul Islam, Convener of the Khulna Divisional Teachers’ Association, and attended by several other leaders, including:
Mominul Islam, Organizational Secretary ,Harun-or-Rashid, Joint General Secretary ,Azmal Hossain, Treasurer ,Ashraf Ali, International Affairs Secretary ,Hamidul Islam, Education and Cultural Secretary ,BM Kiam Uddin, Coordinator, Jesore District Committee.
The teachers’ key demands are:
1.Withdrawal of the controversial August 12, 2020 circular issued by the Ministry of Finance regarding time-scale promotions, which they claim has created unnecessary obstacles for nationalized teachers.
2.Recognition of seniority based on 50% of actual service duration.
3.Immediate publication of the gazette for excluded head teachers.
The teachers warned that the government must act quickly to resolve the issues or face a nationwide movement that could seriously disrupt the primary education system.