MPO-LISTED TEACHERS
Hunger strike enters 3rd day
UNB
An indefinite hunger strike called by the teachers and employees of Monthly Pay Order (MPO)-listed educational institutions rolled onto third day on Wednesday, reports UNB.
Several hundred people, representing some five lakh teachers and employees of 37,000 MPO-listed academic institutions, have been fasting in front of the National Press Club since Monday demanding nationalisation of their schools.
The teachers and employees went on the hunger strike under the banner of Beshorkari Sikkha Jatiyakoron Liaison Forum.
The joint secretary of the Forum, Md Rofiqul Islam told UNB that MPO-listed non-government educational institutions employees are being deprived of proper increment of salary and allowances in spite
of their workload as much as their peers in the government institutions.
He also said the students of these institutions have to pay more than the government educational institutions, and thats why many students dropout.
Md Robiul Islam, a teacher of Kamalla D R S High School of Muradnagar upazila of Comilla, came to express his solidarity with other demonstrating teachers. He said, We are fasting not for our (teachers and employees) benefits only but for the students in the rural areas who have to spend relatively more comparing to those study in government institutions.
Rofiqul claimed around 5 lakh teachers and employees and 2.5 crore students of 37,000 MPO-listed institutions will be benefited if the institutions are nationalised as it will help lower the educational cost and increase the quality of education.
They started the demonstration from January 10 with a sit-in programme and subsequently turned the movement into an indefinite hunger strike from January 15.
