Thursday, 16 October, 2025
Teachers and staff of MPO-registered educational institutions have announced a march to the State Guest House Jamuna on Thursday if the government fails to meet their long-standing demand for the nationalisation of all private schools.
The announcement came at Dhaka’s Central Shaheed Minar on Wednesday following a three-hour blockade at Shahbagh, where demonstrators warned that the government must act immediately or face a broader, countrywide agitation.
The protesters have set a 12pm Thursday deadline for the authorities to respond to their demands, which include introducing a house rent allowance equivalent to 20 percent of basic pay, raising the medical allowance for MPO-registered staff from Tk 500 to Tk 1,500, and increasing the festival allowance from 50 percent to 75 percent of basic salary.
After blocking Shahbagh from noon to 3pm, the protesting teachers returned to Shaheed Minar and formally unveiled the plan at 5:15pm.
The programme named March to Jamuna was announced by Delwar Hossain Azizi, secretary of the MPO Education Nationalisation Alliance. “If the government does not issue a notification to meet our three demands by Wednesday, we will no longer be confined to the three-point agenda", Azizi said..
“From Thursday morning, MPO-registered teachers and staff will mobilise at Shaheed Minar to demand the nationalisation of all government and private schools.”
Since Sunday, teachers and staff have been holding daily assemblies, rallies, marches, and blockades in the capital.
Teachers and staff of MPO-registered educational institutions have continued their sit-in demonstration at Shahbagh in the capital, demanding the nationalisation of all private schools, colleges, and madrasas under the Monthly Pay Order (MPO) scheme.
The demonstration, which entered its consecutive days this week, has drawn thousands of educators from across the country, many of whom have been camping out in Shahbagh despite adverse weather and mounting hardship.
The protesters accuse the government of prolonged neglect and unfulfilled promises regarding pay structure reforms, saying that the current benefits fail to match the rising cost of living.
On Wednesday, leaders of the National Teachers’ Grand Alliance, the umbrella platform coordinating the movement, announced a “March to Jamuna” programme on Thursday if the government does not respond to their demands by noon. The march is aimed at the State Guest House Jamuna, symbolically pressing authorities for an immediate decision on nationalisation.
The teachers have also issued a 12pm Thursday deadline for the government to approve several key demands, including:
Introduction of a 20 percent house rent allowance based on basic pay;
Raising medical allowance from Tk 500 to Tk 1,500;
Increasing festival allowance from 50 percent to 75 percent of basic salary; and
Nationalisation of all MPO-listed institutions to ensure job security and equal benefits with public sector teachers.
“We have waited long enough. If our demands are not met by the deadline, we will begin our march to Jamuna,” said alliance convener Md. Farid Uddin at a press briefing at the protest site. “The government must realise that we are not just demanding money—we are demanding dignity.”
The ongoing sit-in has caused significant traffic disruptions in central Dhaka, particularly around Shahbagh, TSC, and Doel Chattar areas. Police have increased security to prevent escalation but have so far allowed the protest to continue peacefully.
Teachers participating in the demonstration say they are determined to continue their movement until the government issues a formal declaration. “We teach the nation’s children, yet our own families live in insecurity. Nationalisation is not a privilege—it’s our right,” said Rehana Akhter, a secondary school teacher from Mymensingh, who joined the protest earlier this week.
The Ministry of Education has yet to make any official comment on the teachers’ latest ultimatum. Officials, however, said earlier that discussions were underway to review the financial feasibility of expanding allowances under the MPO scheme.
As the Thursday deadline approaches, tension remains high at Shahbagh, where demonstrators say they are prepared for an extended movement if their demands go unmet.
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Teachers and staff of MPO-registered educational institutions have announced a march to the State Guest House Jamuna on Thursday if the government fails to meet their long-standing demand for the nationalisation of all private schools.
The announcement came at Dhaka’s Central Shaheed Minar on Wednesday following a three-hour blockade at Shahbagh, where demonstrators warned that the government must act immediately or face a broader, countrywide agitation.
The protesters have set a 12pm Thursday deadline for the authorities to respond to their demands, which include introducing a house rent allowance equivalent to 20 percent of basic pay, raising the medical allowance for MPO-registered staff from Tk 500 to Tk 1,500, and increasing the festival allowance from 50 percent to 75 percent of basic salary.
After blocking Shahbagh from noon to 3pm, the protesting teachers returned to Shaheed Minar and formally unveiled the plan at 5:15pm.
The programme named March to Jamuna was announced by Delwar Hossain Azizi, secretary of the MPO Education Nationalisation Alliance. “If the government does not issue a notification to meet our three demands by Wednesday, we will no longer be confined to the three-point agenda", Azizi said..
“From Thursday morning, MPO-registered teachers and staff will mobilise at Shaheed Minar to demand the nationalisation of all government and private schools.”
Since Sunday, teachers and staff have been holding daily assemblies, rallies, marches, and blockades in the capital.
Teachers and staff of MPO-registered educational institutions have continued their sit-in demonstration at Shahbagh in the capital, demanding the nationalisation of all private schools, colleges, and madrasas under the Monthly Pay Order (MPO) scheme.
The demonstration, which entered its consecutive days this week, has drawn thousands of educators from across the country, many of whom have been camping out in Shahbagh despite adverse weather and mounting hardship.
The protesters accuse the government of prolonged neglect and unfulfilled promises regarding pay structure reforms, saying that the current benefits fail to match the rising cost of living.
On Wednesday, leaders of the National Teachers’ Grand Alliance, the umbrella platform coordinating the movement, announced a “March to Jamuna” programme on Thursday if the government does not respond to their demands by noon. The march is aimed at the State Guest House Jamuna, symbolically pressing authorities for an immediate decision on nationalisation.
The teachers have also issued a 12pm Thursday deadline for the government to approve several key demands, including:
Introduction of a 20 percent house rent allowance based on basic pay;
Raising medical allowance from Tk 500 to Tk 1,500;
Increasing festival allowance from 50 percent to 75 percent of basic salary; and
Nationalisation of all MPO-listed institutions to ensure job security and equal benefits with public sector teachers.
“We have waited long enough. If our demands are not met by the deadline, we will begin our march to Jamuna,” said alliance convener Md. Farid Uddin at a press briefing at the protest site. “The government must realise that we are not just demanding money—we are demanding dignity.”
The ongoing sit-in has caused significant traffic disruptions in central Dhaka, particularly around Shahbagh, TSC, and Doel Chattar areas. Police have increased security to prevent escalation but have so far allowed the protest to continue peacefully.
Teachers participating in the demonstration say they are determined to continue their movement until the government issues a formal declaration. “We teach the nation’s children, yet our own families live in insecurity. Nationalisation is not a privilege—it’s our right,” said Rehana Akhter, a secondary school teacher from Mymensingh, who joined the protest earlier this week.
The Ministry of Education has yet to make any official comment on the teachers’ latest ultimatum. Officials, however, said earlier that discussions were underway to review the financial feasibility of expanding allowances under the MPO scheme.
As the Thursday deadline approaches, tension remains high at Shahbagh, where demonstrators say they are prepared for an extended movement if their demands go unmet.
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