Staff Reporter :
The sit-in protest by teachers demanding the inclusion of all non-MPO (Monthly Pay Order) educational institutions under the MPO scheme has entered its sixth day, garnering growing support from various quarters.
Members of the “Unified Non-MPO Alliance” staged a sit-in protest in front of the National Press Club from morning till evening, highlighting their demands on Friday.
So far, several political and student leaders have expressed solidarity with the movement. Among them are Zonayed Saki, Chief Coordinator of the Ganosamhati Andolon; Dr. Syed Abdullah Mohammad Taher, Naib-e-Ameer of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami and former MP; Assistant Secretary General of Jamaat-e-Islami, Rafiqul Islam Khan; Nurul Islam Bulbul, Ameer of Dhaka Metropolitan South Jamaat; Dr. Mu Shafiqul Islam Masud, Secretary General of Dhaka Metropolitan South Jamaat; and Abdul Mohamenul, Central Education Secretary of Islami Chhatra Shibir. Additionally, Umama Fatema, Central Coordinator and Spokesperson of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, has also extended her support.
Jamaat-e-Islami has expressed full support for the
demands of the disadvantaged non-MPO teachers, urging the government to include all non-MPO educational institutions under the MPO scheme based on academic recognition.
During the program, teacher leaders stated that MPO inclusion is a continuous process, and applications for inclusion should be accepted every year. However, they lamented that no applications had been accepted in the past four years. They warned that if applications are not taken in 2025, many educational institutions may be forced to shut down, as it is impossible for teachers to work without salaries for 20-25 years.
They further demanded that the government repeal the 2021 MPO policy enacted by the previous “fascist government” and implement a new policy based on academic recognition to include all non-MPO institutions-including schools, colleges, madrasas, vocational, agricultural, and degree colleges-under the MPO scheme.
Former convenor of Dhaka University Chhatra Dal and BNP National Executive Committee member Md. Abdul Matin also expressed solidarity with the non-MPO teachers. He noted that these teachers have been protesting for 15-20 years. While the previous “fascist government” ignored their demands, he expressed hope that the interim government, formed after the “2024 student-people revolution,” would acknowledge and address their rightful demands.
Teacher leaders reiterated their concerns, emphasizing that MPO inclusion is an ongoing process. However, they decried the fact that no applications had been accepted for the past four years. They warned that if applications are not taken in 2025, many educational institutions may be forced to close down, as no one can continue working without pay for 20-25 years.
