Pry teachers continue hunger strike

Thousands of primary school teachers are on hunger strike, demanding an upgrade of their pay scale. The teachers started their indefinite hunger strike at the Central Shaheed Minar in Dhaka on Saturday, under the banner of the Primary Assistant Teachers’ Grand Alliance. Already, several teachers have fallen ill due to the cold and lack of food. The teachers pointed out that the headmasters of primary schools now get their salary under the 10th grade, while they are still under the 14th grade. This is discriminatory, they argued.

They said they deserve the  11th grade, which would also take their salary from Tk. 9,500 to Tk. 12,000, which would help them lead a decent life. “We have formed human chains, staged demonstrations, and held meetings with ministers to press for our demand. But the authorities have paid no heed to our demand. We had to take a drastic step,” said Shahinur Al Amin, president of the Bangladesh Primary Teachers’ Society.

On December 9, the teachers threatened to go on a fast-unto-death from December 23 if their jobs were not upgraded to the 11th grade as per the Eighth National Pay Scale by December 22. But their demand was not met.

Primary and mass education minister Mostafizur Rahman Fizar told the media that the matter can be addressed through a dialogue and a drastic protest is not necessary. The teachers are passing their days and nights under the open sky in the cold on the Shaheed Minar premises.

They said they won’t leave until the demands are met. Throughout the day, the teachers sang ‘We shall overcome’ and chanted slogans like ‘Our demands have to be accepted’.

Ebadul Islam, a teacher at Kantibaria Primary School in Gopalganj, complained: “We spent the night in the fog and cold, lying on polythene sheets. Some of us have fallen ill due to the cold. But it seems no one is bothered about our condition.”

Some of the teachers were hospitaliZed and some had to be put on a saline drip. President of the teachers’ alliance, Tapan Kumar Mondol, asserted: “We will not break our fast until we get an assurance from the prime minister.” Bangabir Kader Siddique expressed his solidarity with the teachers and urged the Prime Minister to accept their demand. “Had I known that teachers would one day hold a hunger strike at the Shaheed Minar, I would not have joined the Liberation War. The nation builders are spending their nights in the open and holding a fast to have their demands met. It is shameful for a civiliSed nation,” he added.

Pry teachers continue hunger strike

Thousands of primary school teachers are on hunger strike, demanding an upgrade of their pay scale. The teachers started their indefinite hunger strike at the Central Shaheed Minar in Dhaka on Saturday, under the banner of the Primary Assistant Teachers Grand Alliance. Already, several teachers have fallen ill due to the cold and lack of food. The teachers pointed out that the headmasters of primary schools now get their salary under the 10th grade, while they are still under the 14th grade. This is discriminatory, they argued. They said they deserve the 11th grade, which would also take their salary from Tk. 9,500 to Tk. 12,000, which would help them lead a decent life. We have formed human chains, staged demonstrations, and held meetings with ministers to press for our demand. But the authorities have paid no heed to our demand. We had to take a drastic step, said Shahinur Al Amin, president of the Bangladesh Primary Teachers Society. On December 9, the teachers threatened to go on a fast-unto-death from December 23 if their jobs were not upgraded to the 11th grade as per the Eighth National Pay Scale by December 22. But their demand was not met. Primary and mass education minister Mostafizur Rahman Fizar told the media that the matter can be addressed through a dialogue and a drastic protest is not necessary. The teachers are passing their days and nights under the open sky in the cold on the Shaheed Minar premises. They said they wont leave until the demands are met. Throughout the day, the teachers sang We shall overcome and chanted slogans like Our demands have to be accepted. Ebadul Islam, a teacher at Kantibaria Primary School in Gopalganj, complained: We spent the night in the fog and cold, lying on polythene sheets. Some of us have fallen ill due to the cold. But it seems no one is bothered about our condition. Some of the teachers were hospitaliZed and some had to be put on a saline drip. President of the teachers alliance, Tapan Kumar Mondol, asserted: We will not break our fast until we get an assurance from the prime minister. Bangabir Kader Siddique expressed his solidarity with the teachers and urged the Prime Minister to accept their demand. Had I known that teachers would one day hold a hunger strike at the Shaheed Minar, I would not have joined the Liberation War. The nation builders are spending their nights in the open and holding a fast to have their demands met. It is shameful for a civiliSed nation, he added.