Teachers of the secondary-level schools under the government monthly pay order system on Sunday threatened to go for countrywide work abstention for an indefinite period and a non-stop sit-in in the capital Dhaka from today, demanding pay hike.
On the day, police dispersed the teachers using water cannon, hurling sound grenades and charging batons on them in the capital as they blocked the road in front of the National Press Club.
They detained three to four teachers for interrogation while both police and teachers said some of them were injured during a scuffle.
Due to the blockade, severe traffic congestion was created at the Press Club area and the adjacent areas, with road users being stranded for hours.
Under the banner of 鈥楳PO-bhukto Shikkha Jatiyakaran Pratyashi Jote鈥�, a platform of the MPO teachers seeking nationalisation, hundreds of teachers started gathering in front of the Press Club in the morning and blocked the road demanding 20 per cent increase in the house rent allowance, Tk 1,500 as the medical allowance and an increase in the festival allowance for employees from the current 50 per cent to 75 per cent.
As the teachers blocked the road in front of the Press Club, traffic congestion was created in Paltan, Gulistan, Dhaka University, Motijheel and Kakrail areas.
At about 1:30pm, police came to the spot and asked the protesting teachers to remove their blockade.
As the teachers refused to do that, police hurled at least three sound grenades, sprayed water from cannon and charged batons on them.
Later, at about 2:00pm, the protesting teachers went to the Central Shaheed Minar area and stayed there till 5:00pm.
A huge number of teachers gathering there were chanting slogans that they would continue their movement till their demands were met.
Shahbagh police station officer-in-charge Khalid Monsur said that they had detained three to four teachers from the Press Club area for interrogation.
He also claimed that three to four police personnel were injured during a scuffle with the teachers and they received primary treatment.
Earlier, on September 30, the Finance Division issued an office order, raising the house rent for the teachers and employees of the non-government educational institutions under the MPO from Tk聽1,000 to Tk聽1,500. The teachers rejected the increase.聽
Platform member secretary principal Delawar Hossain Azizi told 抖阴精品 that they wanted 20 per cent increase in the house rent allowance and Tk 1,500 as the medical allowance.
He also said that a representative team of them went to the secretariat to meet the finance ministry adviser and secretary, but they were not available at the ministry.
鈥榃e have learnt that the advisers of the finance and education ministries are abroad now and they will return on October 22,鈥� he said.
Delawar said that they would start countrywide work abstention for an indefinite period and a non-stop sit-in at the Central Shaheed Minar premises in the capital from today until their demands were met.
He also claimed that some of their fellows were arrested and two to three of them were injured in front of the Press Club.
In May, the government increased the festival allowance for teachers from 25 per cent to 50 per cent.
On March 5, the then education adviser, Wahiduddin Mahmud, announced increases in the festival, medical, recreation and house rent allowances for the teachers from Eid-ul-Azha celebrated in June.
His announcement came after teachers under the MPO system had enforced a 22-day strike.
Currently, in government schools, an entry-level teacher draws Tk聽23,900 as gross salary in the districts except Dhaka and Tk聽24,700 as gross salary in Dhaka.
Of this amount, 16,000 is basic salary, Tk 1,500 medical allowance and 40鈥�45 per cent of their basic pay is house rent.
An entry-level government schoolteacher draws 100 per cent of their basic salary as festival allowances.
